Elis, the French service group that acquired Kings Laundry in 2018, has bought a Dublin pest control company as it expands its services in the market here.
PestGuard, based in Rathcoole, has been sold to the French group for an undisclosed sum.
Thomas O’Toole and his wife Margaret founded PestGuard in 1983 and have stayed at the helm as the business has grown.
Last year, the firm had a turnover of €3 million while employing 50 people and offering services across Ireland. Accounts show an operating profit after charges of €161,082.
The management team, which includes three of O’Toole’s children, Darren, Adele and Michael, will stay in place following the acquisition.
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The company serves a mix of residential and commercial clients, including hotels, data centres, supermarkets and the pharmaceutical services.
Xavier Martiré, chairman of Elis’s management board, said that the company’s business was based on the circular economy, “giving our customers the opportunity to use many products through rental rather than having to buy them”.
Marc O’Connor, sales manager at the firm, said the company intended to increase market share under Elis. He added: “The thinking behind the sale was that we could stay where we are or try to compete with some of the bigger multinationals operating here.”
Rentokil and Ecolab currently dominate the Irish pest control market.