MA Spotlight: U.S. Silt & Site Supply

U.S. Silt & Site Supply is the premier manufacturer and distributor of erosion control and site supply products in New England, specializing in providing a wide range of erosion control solutions, including geotextiles, compost filter sock, and silt fencing.  This year, MKB Company, a national leader in stormwater management and erosion control solutions, announced that it had acquired US Silt from founders John and Chad Demetry. The acquisition expands MKB’s geographic footprint in the Northeast and strengthens its ability to serve customers with high-quality, locally supported erosion control solutions.  Members of the existing management team, with MKB’s support, will continue to lead US Silt through its next phase of growth. Gennari Aronson served as counsel to U.S. Silt in the transaction.

“Partnering with MKB is a great alliance for our customers and our employees,” said John Demetry, Founder and CEO of U.S. Silt & Site Supply. “Our core focus at U.S. Silt is to ensure the success of our customers, and together with MKB, we will strengthen the value of what we can deliver through expanded capabilities, additional new products and more technical resources.  For our employees, we feel that this is an opportunity to celebrate what we’ve built together and open the door to new opportunities.”

Client Focus with John Demetry, Founder CEO of U.S. Silt & Site Supply

What motivated you to consider a transaction after so many successful years as an independent company?

U.S. Silt experienced more than twenty years of consistent growth. We combined quality products with experience and great service and we kept growing to the point where we needed more structure, so we started looking for the right partner for future growth. 

What was the process like?

The process was consuming and we spent a lot of time hammering out the letter of intent, all so we could eliminate deal risk and streamline negotiations for the definitive agreement.  Choosing a lawyer turned out to be an easy choice. A trusted adviser recommended Gennari Aronson.  That was the easiest part of the process.  The actual process took about six long months.  Be prepared to work twice as hard as you ever have.  You’ll have to operate your business while simultaneously working on a transaction. Having the right people to guide you through the process is critical.

What advice would you give to anyone who might be fielding calls from potential buyers and otherwise considering a similar path?

Resist the temptation to do this yourself.  If you are contemplating the sale of your largest asset, hire seasoned lawyers who do a lot of M&A work. Looking back on the process I can say that our experienced counsel helped us look around corners and find solutions.