Houlihan Lokey Advises Southland

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Southland Industries (Southland) has acquired The Brandt Companies, LLC (Brandt). The transaction closed on March 31, 2022.

As a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) building systems expert, Southland Industries provides integrated, full lifecycle solutions that optimize the design, construction, operation, and efficiency of buildings. Through collaborative partnerships with clients and the collective expertise of its people, Southland creates premier built environments and future-ready spaces where communities and businesses can thrive.

“One of our strategic objectives is to expand our geographic footprint to become a true national company that can better serve our customers, increase our industry influence towards more collaborative delivery approaches, and create additional opportunities for our employees,” said Ted Lynch, Ph.D., CEO of Southland Industries. “I am excited to welcome Brandt to the Southland Industries family and look forward to what we will accomplish together.”

Brandt is the largest MEP contractor in the state of Texas. The company is headquartered in Dallas and has offices in Fort Worth, Houston, Waco, Austin, and San Antonio. Southland’s acquisition of Brandt unites a team of over 5,000 talented individuals across 35 states, with full lifecycle expertise—from engineering through fabrication and installation to post-construction services, including operations, maintenance, and energy services—on some of the most complex projects in the U.S.

“Both Brandt’s and Southland's futures have gotten brighter because of this acquisition,” said Brandt CEO Barry Moore. “Our combined businesses will provide significant opportunities for our employees, and together we are well equipped to provide design-build and technical services to the largest, most sophisticated customers in the country. This is going to be a fantastic journey.”

Steve Hayes, President of Brandt, added, “With more resources, we will strengthen and expand our capabilities for our customers on a nationwide level. And with Brandt’s advances in our core offerings and innovations in construction technologies, combined with Southland’s robust design-build and engineering expertise, there are many opportunities for us to grow and leverage our best practices together.”

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor and assisted in diligence, negotiation, and facilitation of the transaction on behalf of Southland. This deal highlights Houlihan Lokey’s preeminent position and continued success advising firms in the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and broader facility services sectors.