Optimum Energy has acquired Hussung Mechanical Contractors and HMC Service Company, adding in-house mechanical contracting and field service capabilities as it expands its infrastructure services platform for healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, data center and other mission-critical facilities.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Hussung will continue to operate under its existing identity as HMC within Optimum Energy. Optimum Energy is a portfolio company of Bernhard Capital Partners.
The deal brings a fourth-generation mechanical contractor with more than 60 years of operating history into Optimum Energy’s platform. HMC, which traces its roots to 1966, specializes in the design, installation and servicing of HVAC, plumbing, medical gas and piping systems, primarily for customers in Kentucky and Indiana.
Optimum Energy said the acquisition is meant to strengthen its ability to execute across the full lifecycle of large-scale facility infrastructure. The company’s existing services include engineering, design and construction, central utility plant development and modernization, operations and maintenance, asset management and long-term performance optimization.
By adding HMC, Optimum Energy increases its capacity to self-perform mechanical construction and field service work instead of relying only on outside contractors. The added capability is particularly relevant for complex facilities where engineering, construction, maintenance and energy performance are closely linked. Optimum Energy CEO and President Lisa Roy said:
"Their technical depth, their culture of accountability, and the reputation they have earned over 60 years are real and rare. We are adding a team that makes the entire platform stronger."
HMC has served healthcare systems, universities, manufacturers and mission-critical facilities, with work spanning new installations and ongoing mechanical system maintenance. The transaction gives Optimum Energy added exposure to both recurring service relationships and project-based construction work.
The acquisition also expands Optimum Energy’s effort to combine physical infrastructure services with technology and operating capabilities. The company said it uses proprietary artificial intelligence technology built on approximately 20 years of central plant performance data, supported by a Remote Services team that continuously monitors and optimizes facility systems across its portfolio.
That structure is intended to create a more vertically integrated offering. Under the combined platform, Optimum Energy can participate in initial engineering and construction, provide mechanical contracting through HMC, and remain involved through operations, maintenance and performance optimization. The company also offers an Energy-as-a-Service model that can provide customers access to infrastructure improvements through off-balance-sheet financing structures without requiring upfront capital, and the addition of HMC broadens the range of work that can potentially be delivered through that model.
For Hussung, the transaction provides access to additional resources and a larger operating platform while keeping its established name. HMC CEO, David C. Hussung, said:
"This partnership gives HMC the platform to grow faster and smarter without changing the foundation that made this company worth building in the first place."
Hussung President, Corey Cousino, said the combination is expected to let the mechanical contractor pursue more complex projects while creating additional opportunities for its workforce.
The acquisition also fits Bernhard Capital Partners’ strategy of building scaled infrastructure services platforms in sectors with durable demand. The firm manages more than $6Billion in assets and focuses on infrastructure services and essential-sector businesses operating in complex and frequently regulated markets.
"This acquisition reflects the strategy behind how we build platforms," said Jonathan de Lauréal, Managing Director at Bernhard. "We identify and bring together market-leading businesses whose expertise, customer relationships, and technical capabilities create end-to-end offerings with greater scale and reach. Optimum Energy and Hussung are a strong example of this strategy. Together, they form a more complete infrastructure platform that can serve customers across the full facility lifecycle while expanding service capabilities and creating a foundation for long-term growth."
For Optimum Energy, the addition of HMC expands the work it can perform directly in HVAC, plumbing, piping and medical gas systems while providing another entry point into customer facilities. For HMC, the deal adds scale and resources while preserving a business and customer relationships built over six decades.
