Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta GA-based private equity firm that invests in environmental services companies, announced July 2 that its affiliate has acquired QualaWash Holdings LLC. QualaWash represents Roark’s third environmental service platform investment and 29th transaction in this sector.
QualaWash is the largest independent provider of truck tank and container washing services through its nationwide network of 52 locations. Headquartered in Tampa FL, QualaWash provides strong customer service and environmental compliance by leveraging its proprietary library of cleaning and residual waste handling procedures for over 12,000 products, including latex, industrial oils, resins, solvents, and paint. The Company has been led by Chief Executive Officer Mike Bauer since 2005.
“We are excited to partner with Mike and the team at QualaWash to support their goal of continued growth and high-quality customer service,” says Jeffrey J Keenan, Roark Capital Group president.
Adds Bauer: “Roark’s team and industry experience will provide QualaWash with the additional resources needed to accelerate our disciplined approach to organic and acquisition growth, while continuing to provide superior service and environmentally-friendly solutions for our customers.”
Roark’s other environmental platform investments include a $100 million growth equity investment in Waste Pro USA Inc and $120 million growth equity investment in GFL Environmental. Waste Pro provides solid waste collection, disposal, and recycling services to more than 1.1 million residential and 39,000 commercial customers in the southeastern United States. GFL provides solid waste and liquid waste collection, transfer, and disposal services to over 750,000 residential and 16,000 commercial customers, as well as soil remediation services, in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in franchise, brand management, environmental services and marketing services companies with attractive growth prospects. Roark focuses on middle-market investment opportunities through family-owned business transfers, management and corporate buyouts, recapitalizations, going-private transactions, and corporate divestitures. Roark and its affiliates have now made 29 acquisitions in the environmental services industry.
Roark also acquired 21 franchise/multi-unit brands that collectively have more than 3,500 franchisees and $9.0 billion in system-wide revenues across 50 states and 52 countries. Its current franchise portfolio includes Arby’s, Auntie Anne’s, Batteries Plus, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Corner Bakery, Fast Signs, Il Fornaio, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Money Mailer, Pet Valu, Primrose Schools, Schlotzsky’s, and Wingstop. The firm has more than $2.5 billion of equity capital under management.