Regent Cleaning acquired by France’s Samsic

08 October 2008

One of the UK’s fastest-expanding contract cleaning companies, Regent Office Care Ltd, has been acquired by France’s third largest provider, 1.3 billion Euro turnover Samsic Group, for an undisclosed sum.

The development brings the company, which trades as Regent Cleaning, the strengths and resources of a major international provider without affecting day-to-day operation, says sales and marketing director John Critchell, "Samsic’s philosophy is to develop new sales territories through the acquisition of successful local independents. We share a common culture in providing best practice and support to customers and so there will be no changes to Regent’s strategies, services nor its customer agreements."

Critchell acknowledges significant benefits to the company and customers alike in the sale to Samsic. "It offers us the expertise and resources of a highly successful large company, whilst allowing us to continue our strategy in the UK of being the local company close to our customers with a national and now European back up if needed. Additionally there is the opportunity to make fresh investment in our aims and aspirations to develop share of the UK market and broaden the range of services we can offer. It’s a very good fit for all parties."

Regent Cleaning will continue under the management of John Critchell and operations director, Jonathan King. Joining the UK company’s board are recently appointed finance director Jacqueline Kingsnorth and from Samsics board Gerard Jicquel, and Patrick Dubos, both of whom are based in France.

Founded in 1986, Rennes-based Samsic Group fields over 40,000 employees from 200 locations on behalf of more than 10,000 clients. Samsic is well-regarded for the quality of its service professionalism and has expanded from its core cleaning offer to undertake tasks ranging from security and facilities management to recruitment and home domestic services on behalf of a wide customer base throughout France. Samsic also operates in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal.

Operating from eight UK locations with 3000 employees, £20m turnover Regent Cleaning is a major supplier of cleaning to private and public sector accounts in the commercial, leisure, healthcare and educational sectors. Founded in 1986, the Godalming, Surrey-based company has grown by over 20% in the last year alone. Recent gains include the expansion of Regent’s provision to the Ministry of Justice, the NHSBT (NBS), and Matthew Boulton College, which will soon be merging with Sutton Coldfield College in Birmingham.