ValleyCrest Companies announced today that it has acquired Tropics North Landscaping, Inc., a highly-respected landscape install-ation and maintenance firm head-quartered in Homestead, Florida. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Tropics North, founded in 1972 by Josh and Nat Rutter, is run today by Owner and President, Charles Gonzalez, who joined the company in 1991. Providing both landscape installation and maintenance services to customers across south Florida and the Bahamas, Tropics North was recently ranked by industry trade publication, Lawn & Landscape, as the 30th largest landscape company in the United States. Among its many distinctions was its 2006 recognition by the Professional Landscape Network (PLANET) with a Decade Award. Tropics North is one of only 16 companies that has received this distinguished award since 1967. Notable landscape projects in the Florida marketplace include: Atlantis (Bahamas), Downtown @ the Gardens (Palm Beach Gardens), Setai (South Beach), Shore Club (South Beach) and The Loews – (South Beach).

“An extremely successful landscape company throughout Florida and the Bahamas, Tropics North is a company we have respected and followed for many years, and we are very pleased to welcome their employees and customers to the ValleyCrest family,” said Richard Sperber, president, ValleyCrest Companies. “Like ValleyCrest, Tropics is committed to providing the highest quality services to its customers and to building strong and lasting relationships with its employees. These shared values formed the basis for our discussions and will be extremely important as we come together into one company.”

Charles Gonzalez will assume a significant and ongoing role with ValleyCrest as Vice President and Regional Manager.

“Tropics North and ValleyCrest share a common commitment to do the best for our customers and our employees,” said Gonzalez. "We are excited about joining ValleyCrest—they share our passion for delivering the highest quality landscape services and bringing unmatched technical expertise, resources and depth of experience to customers throughout the state. I have been continually impressed by the quality of their work and their people in the south Florida market."

Sperber added, “Tropics North has worked with a wide range of customers, including some of the best property management companies, developers and builders throughout Florida. Furthermore, their presence and reputation in the Bahamas gives ValleyCrest a new landscape construction capability in a market we have yet to truly penetrate.”

ValleyCrest Companies is a nationally-recognized multidisciplinary landscape services firm specializing in landscape architecture, master planning, design-build, landscape construction, long-term landscape maintenance, horticultural services, and tree growing and care. Founded in 1949, ValleyCrest is a $900 million company employing 10,000 people across the nation in more than 100 offices.

 CCG Advisors (www.ccgadv.com) is an Atlanta-based merger and acquisition firm specializing in advising owners of privately held companies on business valuation, strategic growth planning, capital alternatives and exit strategies.  CCG represents business owners nationally and across all lines of industry in the sale, recapitalization or ESOP of their companies.  The referrals and goodwill of our clients are a testament to CCG’s record of building real and lasting client relationships.  CCG is committed to helping clients achieve their personal, financial and business goals at the right time for maximum value.