Kinderhook Industries LLC, a private equity management company this week announced the formation of Rentix Solutions, an infrastructure-focused specialty rental platform created through the merger of JDC (formerly known as Jack Doheny Companies) and Vacuum Truck Rentals (VTR) — two complementary companies serving the water and sewer, electric utility, and environmental markets across the United States.

The merger brings together JDC’s 50-year legacy as a leader in specialized infrastructure equipment — including sewer and vacuum trucks, hydro excavators, aerial boom trucks, air handlers, and inspection equipment — with VTR, a leading commercial vacuum truck rental company in the United States. Rentix Solutions’ national footprint includes 36+ branch locations, a combined fleet of 3,200+ pieces of specialized equipment, and full-service specialty capabilities in rental, parts, and service. The combined entity will be led by CEO Payton Lockey and chief operating officer B.T. Steadman.

“Rentix Solutions represents exactly the kind of platform we build at Kinderhook: specialized expertise, deep asset base, and national reach combined into one market-leading company,” said Corwynne Carruthers, managing director of Kinderhook Industries. “By unifying JDC and VTR, we have created a company capable of serving customers across every dimension of their specialty equipment needs — from the first rental to long-term fleet service and parts support. That is a fundamentally stronger value proposition for customers, and a stronger platform for growth.”

“This is a merger of two great companies with complementary strengths and shared values,” said Lockey. Our customers will experience the same people, the same equipment, and the same service they have always relied on — now backed by a broader platform, a larger fleet, and a deeper bench of expertise. We are bringing together the best of both companies to build something neither could have been alone.”

The Rentix Solutions platform is backed by:

• 36+ branch locations across the United States
• 3,200+ pieces of specialized infrastructure equipment including sewer and vacuum trucks, hydro excavators, aerial boom trucks, air handlers, diggers, drill trucks, and inspection equipment.
• A nationwide parts distribution network with 300,000+ SKUs.
• Certified service technicians with 100+ service bays and 48-hour rental turnaround commitments.
• New and pre-owned specialty equipment sales serving water and sewer, electric utility, and environmental customers.

Focus on specialty rentals

The combined company will serve specialty equipment customers across sewer maintenance and inspection, electric transmission and distribution, underground utility installation, industrial plant maintenance, hydrovac excavation, and environmental services.

Kinderhook is not new to the rental industry. In 2022, Kinderhook acquired Rental Equipment Investment Corp., now known as REIC Rentals, along with CEO and founder Kevin Fitzgerald. REIC continued to make nearly a dozen acquisitions since. Later that year, Kinderhook acquired Mersino Dewatering, a provider of mission-critical water control solutions and pump rentals in North America and its sister company Global Pump, a manufacturer of pumping equipment sold worldwide. 

Earlier this year, Kinderhook announced the formation of Ironclad Powered by Mersino (IPM), a national infrastructure solutions platform serving the water management and specialty liquid containment markets. IPM is created through the merger of Ironclad Environmental Solutions, Mersino Water Solutions, and Global Pump — three organizations with complementary capabilities and a shared commitment to mission-critical performance in the field. 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to JDC and Kinderhook. Financing for the transaction was provided by an ABL syndicate led by Regions Bank with JLA participation from Fifth Third Bank National Association, PNC Capital Markets LLC and The Huntington National Bank, in addition to a split lien term loan led by Marathon Asset Management. Catalyst Strategic Advisors LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to JDC and Kinderhook. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC served as legal counsel to VTR. Founded in 2003, Kinderhook Industries LLC is a private investment firm that has raised more than $11 billion of committed capital, and made more than 500 investments and follow-on acquisitions since inception.