North Carolina Firm Sells to Blackmon Mooring and BMS CAT

Kenny, Gary and Gary Jr. Strickland

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDSTREET MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Blackmon Mooring and BMS CAT purchased Highland Construction the first week of August. All employees stayed on after the sale was completed.

The North Carolina firm provides restoration, renovation, and repair services for home, real estate, and business owners across the state. Highland specializes in several types of restoration, including water and mold, smoke and fire, storm and crime scene.

"Highland’s partnership with BMS CAT is an incredible opportunity for our employees, our customers, and the areas we serve, said Kenny Strickland, Highland’s former President. “It allows us to take on bigger and more complex projects while maintaining our high-quality standards. It gives our team access to even greater professional opportunities and it gives our markets even more support when and where they need it most.”

Haynes and Boone LLP served as legal counsel to BMS CAT. CFGI served as financial advisors to BMS CAT. Murchison Taylor and Gibson PLLC served as legal counsel to Highland Construction. MidStreet Mergers and Acquisitions served as M&A advisors to Highland Construction.

Gary Strickland founded Highland in 1981 after a family fire at the family home. Failing to find a quality firm to remediate the damage, Gary Strickland performed the entire job himself, from bringing out the insurance adjuster to managing subcontractors and installing new flooring. Realizing an opportunity existed to develop a disaster restoration company in Fayetteville, he started Highland.

The firm now employs over 50 team members. Highland Construction has won “The Golden Hammer Award for Exemplary Performance and Dedication” six times.

In 2020, Kenny Strickland decided it was time to step away and reached out to Erik Sullivan at MidStreet Mergers and Acquisitions to prepare for his exit strategy. In late 2021, MidStreet formally launched the process and had conversations with over 60 buyers, including strategic buyers like BMS, private equity groups, and high-net-worth individuals. The ultimate buyer was Blackmon Mooring and BMS CAT.

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