Knox Lane Backs HighGround Restoration with Majority Stake to Scale Mitigation Platform

Knox Lane, a growth-oriented private equity firm, is deepening its presence in the facility services space through a strategic investment in HighGround Restoration Group. This transaction positions HighGround to rapidly scale its residential mitigation and restoration business by leveraging Knox Lane’s capital and operational expertise.

Deal Summary

• Acquirer: Knox Lane, a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on growth opportunities in services and consumer sectors.
• Target: HighGround Restoration Group, a national residential restoration platform serving homeowners with emergency response, clean-up, and rebuild services.
• Geographic Reach: HighGround operates in 13 U.S. states.
• Transaction Type: Majority stake acquisition.
• Previous Owner: Trivest Partners, which built the HighGround platform through multiple add-ons and organic scaling since 2020.
• Use of Funds: Knox Lane plans to support HighGround’s growth via increased business development, digital marketing, hiring talent, operational efficiency, and continued M&A.
• Advisors: Harris Williams served as HighGround’s financial advisor; Akerman LLP represented HighGround and Trivest.

Industry Context

The restoration and mitigation segment is drawing attention as climate risks rise and homeowner demand for fast, reliable disaster-response services intensifies. Investors are favoring platform plays that combine strong local brands with centralized infrastructure. HighGround already operates under a “family of local brands” model, aligning well with this consolidation thesis.

Knox Lane’s investment reflects a broader strategy in the facilities and industrial services space: capitalizing on fragmented, high-touch service providers and scaling them through cross-market expansion, talent investment, and operational excellence.

Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective

This deal exemplifies several key themes in modern PE platform building:

1. Strategic Platform Extension: Knox Lane is adding a restoration business to its value services portfolio, capitalizing on mission-critical residential demand.
2. Founder & Operator Alignment: The existing HighGround leadership, including CEO Ben Balsley, remain in place, maintaining continuity and execution savvy.
3. Capital + Operational Leverage: Knox Lane brings not just capital but operational support (HR, digital, M&A) - a critical advantage in scaling service platforms.
4. Buyout Upside: Trivest exits after a successful multi-year growth phase that included 13 add-on deals, 12x revenue growth, and scaling employee base to nearly 700.
5. Geographic & Scale Gains: The investment enhances HighGround’s national footprint while strengthening its ability to compete at scale.

Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups

• Rising Restoration Needs: Severe weather events and aging housing stock are driving demand for mitigation services.
• Fragmented Market: The restoration industry remains highly decentralized, offering roll-up opportunity.
• Recurring Demand Patterns: Mitigation work produces repeat business (e.g., water damage, fire, mold), which supports predictable cash flow.
• PE Infrastructure Plays: Firms like Knox Lane are increasingly backing service platforms that combine local expertise with centralized infrastructure.
• Exit Potential: For Trivest, this marks a successful platform exit, backed by value creation across a build-out strategy.

Conclusion

Knox Lane’s investment in HighGround Restoration represents a strategic leap for both parties. HighGround receives the capital and operating horsepower needed to expand rapidly, while Knox Lane deepens its commitment to the residential services space with a scalable, mission-critical platform.

For restoration business leaders, this deal underlines the value of building a well-branded, acquisition-ready company. For investors, it showcases restoration services as an attractive sector for platform consolidation. And for homeowners, it signals the strengthening of high-quality, responsive providers backed by scale.