A Quercus International team, led by Dane Houlahan, has advised the shareholders of Metalwash Limited (“Metalwash” or the “Company”) on the sale of the business to Safetykleen UK Limited (“Safetykleen Group”). Safetykleen Group had originally acquired a majority stake in the Company in December 2023, and it has now acquired the remaining shares in the business not already owned.

Metalwash is a company specialising in the service rental of parts cleaning equipment for the automotive, engineering, rail, aviation and other sectors. Headquartered in Stroud, Gloucestershire, it operates with nationwide sales and service centres with regional hubs in Dundee, Penrith, Harrogate, Birmingham and Dunstable.

Safetykleen Group is a provider of parts cleaning, waste management and environmental advisory services to customers in 13 countries, including the UK. It is wholly-owned by funds advised and managed by Apax Partners LLP (“Apax Partners”).

The acquisition by Safetykleen Group of Metalwash will drive significant synergies between the two businesses, combining two of the sector’s best-in-class solution providers. The deal will look to harness the skill-set and dedication of both sets of employees to service customers and grow the enlarged group.

Dane Houlahan, Partner, Quercus International, commented: “We are delighted to have been able to support the Metalwash shareholders and management over the past four years, both through the original acquisition of the company via a Fundless Sponsor transaction and again through the recent 100% sale of the Company. Safetykleen will be a great home for the business, and we wish both fantastic management teams all the very best for the future.”

This transaction illustrates Quercus International’s strength in the wider industrial services segment of the market, being the second sector-related transaction completed within the past two months.