By Greg Roumeliotis
NEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Private equity firm KKR & Co LP is in advanced talks to acquire Brickman Group HoldingsInc, the largest U.S. commercial landscaping company, two peoplefamiliar with the matter said on Friday, in a deal projected ataround $1.5 billion.
KKR outbid other private equity firms in the auction forBrickman, including TPG Capital LP and Blackstone Group LP, the people said, cautioning that negotiations had notyet been finalized and noting the outcome could still change.
Leonard Green & Partners LP, a Los Angeles-based privateequity firm, had asked Barclays Plc and Morgan Stanley to run a sale process for Brickman, people familiar withthe matter told Reuters in August.
KKR, Leonard Green, Brickman, Blackstone and TPG did notimmediately respond to a request for comment.
Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Brickman tends to the gardensof offices, campuses, hotels, shopping centers, healthcarefacilities, industrial parks and homes, looks after trees,removes snow and maintains sports turf across 29 states.
Leonard Green acquired a majority stake in Brickman inJanuary 2007 in a $847 million deal in which members of theBrickman family and the company's management retained equityinterests. The buyout firm committed $222 million of equity tothe deal, according to a November 2006 regulatory filing.
Scott Brickman, whose grandfather founded the eponymouscompany in 1939, stepped down as chief executive last year after14 years at the helm to become its chairman. He succeeded hisfather Dick, who became chairman emeritus.
Brickman's CEO is now Andrew Kerin, a former seniorexecutive at Aramark Corp, another private equity-backedcompany.
Barclays (BARC)