Staff Reports | Business & Commerce
Shasta Pools has been acquired by Dansons Capital Group in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners and Hydro Construction, with the new ownership group planning to expand the longtime Arizona pool builder into the broader home services market.
The acquisition closed Aug. 6 and positions the company for expansion beyond its traditional pool construction and renovation business, according to a press release.
Founded in 1966 by brothers Bob and Skip Ast, the family-owned company has built or renovated more than 150,000 pools in Maricopa County and has grown into one of the nation’s largest pool builders.
Under the new ownership group, Shasta Pools plans to invest in its residential and commercial pool construction and renovation divisions, luxury pool design offerings, backyard hardscaping services, extended warranties and e-commerce operations. Additional investment is also planned for the company’s pool maintenance division, which officials said will serve as a foundation for a broader home services platform.
Shasta Pools: Home services expansion planned
The company also announced the launch of Shasta Home Services, a new platform intended to expand beyond pool-related services.
Company officials said Shasta enters the home services sector with more than 200,000 customer relationships throughout central Arizona and a brand that has operated in the market for nearly 60 years.
Plans also call for a new headquarters and design center in Scottsdale. The facility will centralize operations and include a customer contact center designed to support both the pool business and future home services offerings.
Dansons Capital Group is led by CEO Dan Thiessen, President Jeff Thiessen and COO Jordan Thiessen. The company previously built a portfolio of outdoor and backyard-focused businesses, including Pit Boss Grills.
Jeff Thiessen said a personal experience building a backyard pool introduced him to the Ast family and highlighted opportunities for growth within the industry.
“Shasta Pools has national industry brand recognition and has been an Arizona legacy for the last 60 years and we’re excited to reinvest in the company and catapult its growth into the next 60 years,” he said. “We’ve already met with more than 200 employees to learn what they love about Shasta Pools and hear their ideas of how we can grow the company and continue providing our customers with amazing customer service.”
Dan Thiessen will serve as chairman and lead efforts to recruit industry talent and grow the home services division.
Skip Ast Jr., former president of Shasta Pools, said the sale positions the company for its next phase of growth while maintaining the values established by the Ast family.
“This was the right time to bring in a new ownership team to take Shasta Pools to the next level and the next generation of growth,” he said. “My father and my family built this company on a commitment to quality to every homeowner who trusted us with their backyard, their budget, and their own family. We’re confident that the new leadership team’s commitment to uphold that will never change. Knowing this team shares our values and will invest in our team gives Shasta Pools the foundation to grow stronger than ever.”
The company is a member of the Master Pools Guild, an international organization composed of approximately 110 pool builders and designers.
“Partnering with Shasta Pools represents the future of home services. A trusted, generational brand, Shasta brings 200,000 loyal customer relationships with a genuine commitment to the people who serve them every day,” Jacob Tilzer, co-founder and managing partner of Accrual Equity Partners, said. “Together with our partners at Dansons Capital Group and Hydro Construction, we all share a belief that enduring businesses are built on trust, earned one customer at a time. We’re proud to build alongside this team as Shasta grows into a nationwide home services brand.”
