A Blue Haven Pools franchisee is now backed by private equity.
In February, Crescendo Capital Partners purchased a majority interest in Blue Haven of the Gulf, which serves the Gulf Coast region, for an undisclosed amount.
Founders Marc and Sharon Mihalsky remain as partial owners and will continue to manage operations, with the former serving as CEO. The company’s remaining staff also is expected to stay.
“Crescendo’s investment experience in the residential construction trades will help accelerate our growth,” said Marc Mihalsky. “We are immensely confident in the future of the company.”
Blue Haven of the Gulf (which does business simply as Blue Haven) was founded in 2000 in Mobile, Ala. It now also has offices in Jackson, Miss., and Pensacola and Santa Rosa, Fla. It is the largest Blue Haven franchise in revenue and excavation volume. Last year, it built more than 600 residential pools. In addition to gunite construction and renovation, it has a service department.
Crescendo, based in Los Angeles and Chicago, specializes in construction trades, focusing on lower middle-market companies prepared to make significant changes. It sought to invest in a pool company. “In the end, Blue Haven was the hands-down winner in the critical factors of overall sales volume, profitability, brand-name recognition, professional management, and stellar track record for customer satisfaction,” said Crescendo Founding Partner C.L. Turner III.
