Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity portfolio company Orbit Irrigation, Salt Lake City, acquired Bond Manufacturing’s garden business from affiliates of the company’s founding family.
Headquarted in Antioch, California, Bond is a manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and garden products, including hose and watering devices, long and short-handle garden tools and grower supply goods. The company markets products under the owned brands Bond and Bloom, and licensed brands such as Black & Decker, Craftsman, DuPont, Miracle Gro, Scotts and Stanley.
Bond CEO Daryl Merritt, whose family founded the company more than 70 years ago, and Bond President Cam Jenkins will remain involved with the business to assist with the transition.
“We have enormous respect for what the Merritt family has built and look forward to working with Daryl and Cam on the next chapter,” says Orbit CEO Stuart Eyring. “Combining our businesses will help diversify our product mix and customer base, opening up new growth opportunities for all of us.”
Bond’s products are available across a broad range of big box retailers, hardware stores, grocery stores, nurseries, e-commerce retailers and discount outlets.
“I’m proud of everything our family and the entire Bond team has accomplished, and we are confident the garden business will be in good hands going forward,” says Bond Chairman Ron Merritt. “Orbit has a similar heritage and we respect the way the company has preserved its culture as it continues to invest in the future.”
Platinum Equity acquired Orbit in February 2019.
“We are also grateful that Platinum is making good on its pledge to help us expand,” adds Eyring. “We will continue looking for opportunities to grow organically and through additional acquisitions.”
