Laney Directional Drilling Acquired by Maxim Partners and Falcon Investment Advisors

Laney Directional Drilling Co. (Laney), the world’s largest independent horizontal directional drilling (HDD) company serving the oil and gas pipeline industry, today announced it has been acquired by an affiliate of Maxim Partners LLC (Maxim) and Falcon Investment Advisors LLC (Falcon).

“Laney is pleased to announce this acquisition, which represents a great opportunity for both our employees and the company to continue driving growth and offer best in class service to our customers.” Laney CEO Kevin Fox said. “We look forward to partnering with Maxim and Falcon to significantly increase our portfolio of HDD capabilities as well as extend the company’s geographic reach.”

Founded in 1989, Laney is the only HDD company in North America providing integrated engineering, design and construction services.  For more than 25 years, the company has specialized in providing HDD services that  address the  most complex  crossing  needs  of  customers in  the  global energy,  telecommunications  and infrastructure markets.

Laney specializes in servicing pipeline companies with complex, challenging or large scale HDD requirements. Located in Houston,  Laney directionally drills for the purpose of installing infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines and occasional telecommunications conduits. Other applications of directional drilling include water lines, sewer lines and environmental remediation casings. HDD is used for crossing waterways, roadways, shore approaches, congested areas, environmentally sensitive areas, and areas where other methods are more costly or not possible.
 
“Maxim and Falcon are excited to partner with existing management to support the company’s strategic vision of becoming North America’s preferred supplier of HDD services for energy infrastructure,” said Ryan Franco, a managing partner at Maxim. “In addition to providing financial sponsorship, we are placing accomplished pipeline industry veterans onto Laney’s board including Rick Turner, an Energy Industry Partner for Maxim, Ron Page and David Lytle. These individuals have achieved marked success through their associations with Energy Transfer Entities, Red Cedar Gathering, PVR Partners, El Paso Corp. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, Saddle Butte Pipeline, and Koch Industries and will supply strategic counsel to the Company as it enters its next phase of corporate development.”

Franco added, “Laney was acquired through Maxim’s new energy partnership with Falcon and demonstrates our unique ability to provide turn-key subordinated debt, preferred equity and common equity required to close a substantial change-of-control transaction.”

Laney was previously owned by a private equity consortium comprised of Chart Capital Partners, Prudential Capital Partners, Quilvest USA and Basic Materials and Services LLC.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Laney’s management team and employees,” said David Collier, managing director at Chart Capital.  “Our group acquired a well-run family business and worked closely with a great management team to transform the company into a world-class HDD firm. We are pleased to deliver a company that is stronger in every way.  The partnership with Maxim and Falcon will provide for Laney’s continued growth and success.”
Chart and its co-investors will maintain a minority ownership position alongside Maxim and Falcon. Stifel served as exclusive financial advisor and Moore & Van Allen PLLC served as legal counsel to Laney. Andrews Kurth LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisors to Maxim and Falcon, respectively.