Sector

12 July 2022

Orkin expands into Wales with Europest acquisition

PRESS RELEASE

US-based Rollins Inc, best known for its subsidiary pest control brand, Orkin, finalised the acquisition of Europest Environmental Services Ltd in early July 2022.

orkinbuyseuropestinwales

Based in Caerphilly, South Wales, Europest Environmental Services was set up by Andrew Housley in 2001 and traded as the Eurogroup of companies consisting primarily of Europest which offered a full range of pest control servicing activities.

In 2005 Eurocare specialist washroom and hygiene services were added.

Formerly a Rentokil area director, Mr Housley established Europest with three further former Rentokil colleagues; Richard Edwards, Morgan Francis and Lee Davison.

Between the four of them, the business has grown into one of the largest independent companies in the area, employing 26 staff with clients extending from West and Mid Wales, through to South Wales and around the Bristol and Gloucester areas. 

Commenting on the sale, Mr Housley said: “We are very proud of all we have achieved and the business continues to grow. But being part of a larger group offers both the staff and the business greater opportunities.

"Europest has always been run very much as a family operation and the fact that Rollins also has that ‘family feel’ to it appealed to me too. The Europest name will continue, will keep its identity and will remain regional.”

Caspar Appeldoorn, managing director of Orkin International for Europe and the Middle East stated: "The acquisition of Europest extends our coverage into Wales and strengthens our footprint in the Avon and Gloucestershire area.

"Andrew and his team have established a first-class business and we are delighted to welcome them into the Safeguard/Orkin family of businesses.

"We have already identified areas of synergy where, as a partnership, we can further grow together. We are delighted Andrew will remain with the business as divisional director.”

This acquisition further expands the Orkin presence in the UK following rapidly on the heels of the acquisition of NBC Environment in April 2022.

Continued expansion for Orkin in the UK

Europest is the latest addition to the growing number of Orkin companies in the UK.

This began with the acquisition of Safeguard Pest Control in 2016. Since then the AMES Group, Kestrel Pest Control, Enviropest, Baroque Pest Services, the Guardian Group, Albany Environmental, Van Vynck Environmental, IPM and NBC Environment have all been added to the Safeguard/Orkin family of businesses. 

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Source: Orkin press release

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