Press Release: Axis to merge with CLC to create a new, leading UK property maintenance provider

Available for release from 10am Monday 22nd July 2024

Following the acquisition of CLC Group (“CLC”) in June 2023 by H.I.G Capital and CLC’s senior management, an agreement has been reached between H.I.G Capital and the owner and founder of Axis Europe Ltd, (John Hayes), to acquire Axis Europe Ltd (“Axis”) with the intent, following a period of integration, to merge the two businesses and create a new, leading UK property maintenance provider.

Axis provides planned maintenance, responsive repairs, and refurbishment to clients in social housing and local government. It has developed an exceptionally strong reputation as a trusted long-term partner to some of the largest local authorities and housing associations in the UK and is renowned for high service quality. Operating across London, the Southeast, West Midlands, and Merseyside, the business has delivered significant and consistent organic growth over the last two decades.

CLC is a national property and asset maintenance provider that offers national coverage through an extensive branch network. The business delivers planned maintenance, refurbishment, electrical, and fire protection services to clients in social housing, defence, healthcare, education, hospitality and utilities. It has an impressive track record of unbroken organic growth for over two decades, exceptional customer service, and long-term client relationships.

The combination of Axis and CLC (the “Group”) brings together two highly complementary businesses with similar cultures and experienced teams. It creates a leading national property maintenance specialist, delivering essential services to clients across a range of large and growing end-markets including social housing, local government, healthcare, education, defence, utilities, and hospitality. The group will have an unparalleled service offering, including planned maintenance, responsive maintenance, fire protection, electrical services, decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and refurbishment. The mix of nationwide coverage and the enhanced breadth of expertise will significantly benefit clients of Axis and CLC.

All of Axis’s existing senior management team will remain, alongside the existing CLC senior management team, progressively working together to drive the Group’s future development. The founder of Axis, John Hayes, will be a significant shareholder in the Group, alongside H.I.G, CLC management and Axis management. He will also play a key role as a member of the Group board of directors. Continuity of high-quality services to clients will be paramount as the businesses come together gradually over the next 18 months. Clients will see no changes or differences in the services they receive today – it is very much business as usual.

Increasing property compliance regulations, an ageing UK housing stock, and decarbonisation are all beneficial factors for the Group’s ability to broaden and deepen its service offering. This creates an exciting outlook for the future growth prospects of the Group and will bring benefits to our employees, suppliers, shareholders and customers.

John Hayes, Founder and CEO of Axis, remarked, “We are delighted to be merging with CLC to create a national contractor of scale with great geographical and operational synergies. The investment in both companies by HIG will allow the group to benefit from the huge opportunities that exist across all sectors and regions. We see this as very significant milestone which we feel will greatly benefit both Clients and employees. We look forward to driving the group to even greater heights of customer service and delivery which has always been our focus”.

Richard Morris, CEO of CLC, said, “The combination of Axis and CLC is an exciting development that will deliver benefits to clients, through a broader service offering and expanded geographical coverage, whilst also providing more opportunities for colleagues as the group takes advantage of the many new growth opportunities that come from the merger”.

Jim Arnold, Group Chairman, stated, “The merger of these two exceptional, long-term businesses is a great opportunity to deliver improved services to our current and future clients whilst offering increasing opportunities to our employees and supply chain in an exciting and growing part of the UK’s essential infrastructure”.

————— Media Enquiries Contact Information —————

For further information please contact Axis’ Marketing & Communications Director, Paul Smart via paul.smart@axiseurope.com or 07973 747 552

Further information on the two merging companies can be found at axiseurope.com and clcgroup.com, likewise information about the Private Equity company H.I.G can be found here: https://higprivateequity.com/

Additional updates will be published via axiseurope.com/merger_information after the 22nd July.