Apex Plumbing
Plumbing / HVAC / Electrical · Tampa, Hillsborough County by Joe Pinkert
About the company
Tampa Bay area plumbing contractor led by president Joe Pinkert, sold together with three affiliated brands — Garrett Plumbing, Mason Air Conditioning and Heating, and Green Light Electric Services — as Panther Service Group's first platform partnership.
Ownership history
What changed after the sale
Apex and its affiliates became the founding platform of Panther Service Group, a new Florida-focused platform formed in 2026 by Pearl Street Capital Partners. President Joe Pinkert stayed on and called it 'an exciting opportunity for us to partner with a local platform.' Panther said it preserves each partner's distinctive culture, implying brand retention. Graycliff Partners provided unitranche debt plus an equity co-investment on May 27, 2026, and said the platform will pursue further Florida plumbing, HVAC and electrical acquisitions.
Only sourced observations are listed. Customers and employees can add what they saw.
Who really profits
Money paid to Apex Plumbing now flows to Panther Service Group (Tampa, FL), and from there to its investors — Pearl Street Capital Partners, Graycliff Partners — whose funds are ultimately owed returns by their limited partners. Florida-only plumbing, HVAC and electrical platform launched in Tampa in April 2026 by Pearl Street Capital Partners, whose Managing Partner Alex Study framed the thesis around 'people, culture and shared values just as much as growth.' Within a month it made its first partnership: Apex Plumbing of the Tampa Bay area and affiliated brands Garrett Plumbing, Mason Air Conditioning and Heating, and Green Light Electric Services, led by Joe Pinkert, who stayed on. Panther explicitly commits to preserving each brand's distinct identity and culture. It is the newest Tampa-headquartered PE platform in the market.
Capital events at the platform level: 2026-04-01 recap — Pearl Street Capital Partners launches Panther Service Group in Tampa as a Florida-focused plumbing/HVAC/electrical platform.; 2026-05-27 debt raise — Graycliff Partners completed a unitranche debt and equity co-investment supporting Pearl Street Capital Partners' acquisition of Apex Plumbing; Graycliff said it would support further Florida plumbing, HVAC and electrical acquisitions..
Read more: why prices rise after a sale · debt, exits and the 5-year clock.
Same owner, different name
Other Tampa Bay brands controlled by Panther Service Group. Getting a "second opinion" from one of these is not a second opinion.
Garrett Plumbing
Mason Air Conditioning and Heating
Green Light Electric Services
Frequently asked
Who owns Apex Plumbing?
Apex Plumbing is owned by Panther Service Group, a private-equity platform headquartered in Tampa, FL, whose capital has come from Pearl Street Capital Partners and Graycliff Partners. The sale was announced April 29, 2026; the company still operates under its original name.
Is Apex Plumbing private equity owned?
Yes. Apex Plumbing is part of Panther Service Group, which is backed by Pearl Street Capital Partners and Graycliff Partners. See the buyer profile for the capital structure.
Is Apex Plumbing locally owned?
Not in the sense most homeowners mean. Control sits with Panther Service Group in Tampa, FL, although the local brand name is still used.
When was Apex Plumbing sold?
April 29, 2026 (announcement date).
Did Apex Plumbing change its name after the sale?
No. Keeping the acquired brand name is standard practice for platforms; it preserves customer trust and reviews while ownership changes behind it.
Sources Verified — primary document
- PR Newswire / Panther Service Group (2026-04-29) — press release. Tampa Bay service area, Joe Pinkert, affiliated brands, brand retention
- Lippes Mathias LLP — other. Counsel to Apex Plumbing
- Business Acquisition & Merger Associates (2026-05-01) — press release. Buy-side advisor release confirming platform formation around Apex and affiliates
- Graycliff Partners (2026-05-27) — press release. Unitranche debt and equity co-investment; Florida buy-and-build intent; Frank Cacace quote
Researcher notes: Specific city not given in the release, only 'Tampa Bay area'. Unrelated to Apex Service Partners despite the shared word — do not conflate. Affiliated brands Garrett Plumbing, Mason Air Conditioning and Heating, and Green Light Electric Services are referenced in Panther's buyer record but not given separate company entries because no city, founder or trade detail was disclosed for them. | Founding year, founder and employee count were not disclosed in any of the three releases.
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