Choice Environmental to Buy Lawson Sanitation in Miami (With Related Video)

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Choice Environmental Services has reached an agreement to purchase Miami-based Lawson Sanitation. The transaction comes about two months after Charlotte, N.C.-based Swisher Hygiene, which provides cleaning products and services for commercial properties and whose chairman is legendary waste industry figure Wayne Huizenga, bought Choice Environmental.

Lawson Environmental provides collection and recycling services to commercial and multi-family customers. According to a press release issued by Swisher Hygiene, John Lawson, the owner of Lawson Environmental, will join Choice Environmental, although the release doesn’t specify in what capacity.

According to the terms of the agreement, Swisher Hygiene will pay $5.5 million in cash and issue up to 993,067 shares of its common stock to Lawson Sanitation’s owners.

“When Choice first approached me, the company was not for sale,” said John Lawson in a statement. “That said, I looked at my options, the timing in the marketplace and the opportunity at hand — including the ability to be part of a dynamic group with the growth plans and prospects it presented — and I decided to join the team.”

“We are excited to make our first acquisition since joining the Swisher Hygiene family, and we think Lawson is a perfect fit, which enhances Choice Environmental’s position in the South Florida market,” added Glen Miller, CEO of Choice Environmental.

Choice Environmental provides waste services to more than 150,000 residential customers and 7,500 commercial customers in southern and central Florida.

Huizenga co-founded Waste Management and also has served as chairman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic Services. Another member of Swisher’s board — Harris W. Hudson — has been an executive at Waste Management and Republic Services. Hudson is a brother-in-law of Huizenga.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Choice Environmental Services has reached an agreement to purchase Miami-based Lawson Sanitation for $5.5 million.

RELATED VIDEO

Swisher Hygiene Signs Merger Agreement with Choice Environmental Services