Roark Capital Acquires QualaWash Holdings

ATLANTA, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that invests in environmental services companies, announced today that its affiliate has acquired QualaWash Holdings, LLC.

QualaWash is the largest independent provider of truck tank and container washing services through its nationwide network of 52 locations.  Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, 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 CEO 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," said Roark Capital Group president, Jeffrey J. Keenan. 

According to 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."  

QualaWash represents Roark's third environmental service platform investment and 29th transaction in this sector.  Roark's other platform investments include the $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.

About Roark Capital Group
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 has 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. For more information, visit www.roarkcapital.com.

About QualaWash Holdings, LLC
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, QualaWash Holdings is North America's leading independent provider of industrial cleaning, maintenance, and repair services to the tank trailer and transportation container industry.  QualaWash has a coast to coast network of waste water treatment and cleaning facilities, comprised of 52 locations with the widest breadth of tank trailer, intermediate bulk container and ISO container cleaning capabilities in the industry.  For more information, visit www.qualawash.com.

SOURCE Roark Capital Group