Quercus International is delighted to announce that a team, led by Mark Whelan and Jim Clark, has advised on the sale of Forward Waste Management Limited (“Forward Waste Management”) to Agiliti Group Limited (“Agiliti Group”), a Midlands-based waste management and recycling business. The acquisition will strengthen the group’s UK waste management operations.

Headquartered in Cardiff, Forward Waste Management is one of the South West's leading independent waste management and recycling businesses. The company was founded by Lyndon Ward, CEO, and has grown to become a leading provider of total waste management solutions, specialising in the complex requirements of large industrial and manufacturing customers.

The business operates a materials recycling facility and hazardous waste transfer station in Cardiff, supported by a dedicated collection fleet. It also incorporates Enviroquip, a specialist manufacturer of waste handling and compaction equipment, operating from its facility in Barry, Wales.

The acquisition represents a strong strategic fit for both businesses, bringing together complementary operations, specialist capabilities and a shared commitment to delivering innovative, customer-focused waste management solutions. It will also extend the geographic reach and breadth of services available to customers across the enlarged group.

Lyndon Ward, Founder and CEO of Forward Waste Management, commented: “When I founded Forward Waste Management, my ambition was to create a genuinely customer-focused business, built around  understanding the individual waste management and recycling challenges faced by our customers and developing tailored solutions to meet their needs. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved, the business we have built and, above all, the talented and dedicated team that has made that success possible.

Joining the Agiliti Group represents an exciting new chapter for Forward Waste Management. We share a very similar approach to customer service and a commitment to delivering practical, innovative solutions. Importantly, the complementary nature of our businesses will provide access to additional facilities, capabilities and services, enabling us to offer even greater value to our customers across a wider geographic area.

“I would particularly like to thank all our employees for their dedication and hard work over the years, and our customers for their loyalty and continued support. I am confident that becoming part of the Agiliti Group will create exciting opportunities for the business, our people and our customers in the years ahead.”

Chris Price, Group CFO of Agiliti Group, added: “We are delighted to welcome Forward Waste Management into Agiliti Group. Lyndon and his team have built an excellent business with a strong reputation for customer service, technical expertise and delivering innovative solutions to complex waste management challenges.

Forward Waste Management is an excellent strategic fit for the group, bringing complementary capabilities, specialist facilities and an established customer base that will further strengthen our position in the UK waste management market.

We look forward to working with the Forward Waste Management team, building on their considerable achievements and continuing to develop the combined group's offering to customers.”

As advisers to Forward Waste Management, Mark Whelan, Partner, Head of Circular Economy at Quercus International, commented: “We are delighted to have advised Forward Waste Management on its sale to Agiliti Group. This transaction represents a very positive outcome for shareholders and an exciting new chapter for the business, its management and employees under its new ownership.

The Circular Economy is a core sector for Quercus International, and this transaction further strengthens our track record of advising businesses across the industry. We continue to see strong interest from both strategic acquirers and financial investors, reflecting the sector’s attractive long-term fundamentals and the opportunities created by evolving regulation, technological innovation and the growing focus on resource efficiency.”