Egan Company acquires Austin’s Kestner Electric; 23 employees, former owner to continue with business
Published 9:42 am Thursday, July 2, 2015
From left, Egan Co. Chief Operating Officer Duane Hendricks, former Kestner Electric co-owner Kevin Kestner, former Kestner Electric co-owner Kim Kestner and Egan President and CEO Jim Malecha pose after completing the deal for Egan to buy Kestner Electric on Wednesday. — Photo provided
An Austin electric company is under new ownership, but familiar faces are expected to stay on and continue at the business.
Specialty trade contractor Egan Co. bought Austin-based electrical contractor Kestner Electric Inc. on Wednesday.
“Kestner Electric and Egan Co. have a strong relationship through the National Electrical Contractors Association and Local Union IBEW 343,” said Jeff Young, vice president of Nietz Electric, a brand of Egan Company, in a press relase. “Kestner [Electric] will help Egan expand the ability to provide high levels of service to customers in a wider region of Southern Minnesota.”
Kestner Electric’s 23 employees will remain in its Austin office, and former co-owner Kevin Kestner will manage the group, while Young will oversee Kestner Electric operations.
Kestner Electric offers electrical construction, low voltage technology installation, UL 508A control panel construction, and electrical maintenance services.
In the release, Egan Company said the acquisition of Kestner Electric enhances Egan’s market position as a provider of electrical and systems integration in southern Minnesota. Egan has a history of providing commercial contracting services to southern Minnesota with its Nietz Electric brand located in Rochester.
Beyond the electrical trade, Egan will offer single-source expertise to Kestner Electric customers, which may include UL508A panel construction, mechanical, millwrights, and other building systems. Currently, electricians work with long-standing customers in the food and agriculture processing industries.
“Kestner Electric has built its business on reputation, relationships, and long-term commitments to assisting various customers achieve their objectives,” Kestner, former Kestner Electric co-owner, said in a press release. “With Egan, we can serve customers even better due to an extensive and skilled staff of engineers, estimators, project managers, programmers, and safety [team]. By joining forces, all of the services which Egan offers now become services which we will be able to provide. … We look forward to bringing the newly acquired abilities to our customers.”
