industry news Bidvest acquires BIC Australia
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isted services, trading, and distribution company, Bidvest, has acquired Australian professional cleaning specialist, BIC, for approximately ZAR1.8 billion. BIC, headquartered in Sydney and operating across Australia, was established in 1989 and is a provider of niche integrated facilities management services across office, commercial and education sites. Its core cleaning service offering leverages an interactive technology solution and is augmented by a full range of cleaning, hygiene, waste, maintenance and other ancillary services. The company employs almost 2,500 people across 3,250 sites and its client base primarily comprises premium A-grade offices in New South Wales. BIC is supported by a web-based reporting system that can be integrated into client systems and an interactive customer experience platform. BIC’s current management team has signed service agreements and remains committed to the
business. BIC has a seasoned and commercially strong management team who have introduced innovative and enabling technology to drive value for all stakeholders and integrated sustainability efforts in the daily operations, says Bidvest. The acquisition will be modestly earningsand return-accretive to the group. “We are excited to have found a business and management team that I believe can contribute to advancing Bidvest’s international growth strategy and add value to a stakeholder base that now includes Australia,” said Mpumi Madisa, Bidvest Chief Executive. The purchase is effective 7 July 2022 and will be settled from the group’s international bond proceeds raised in October 2021. Bidvest further said that the acquisition is aligned to its stated strategic intent of expanding its international presence in facilities management as well as the distribution of plumbing and related products.
Essity and UNICEF sign agreement to drive hygiene awareness
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ssity has extended its partnership with UNICEF in Mexico for an additional three years. The agreement calls for the two organisations to promote proper hand hygiene among children and young people in Mexico. Essity and UNICEF in Mexico will also increase dialogue about menstruation with adolescents to help dispel social taboos. Essity has partnered with the non-profit to promote such initiatives since 2016 as part of the company’s Hygiene is Our Right programme. “I have seen how Hygiene is Our Right has contributed to breaking taboos surrounding menstruation by involving both boys and girls in conversations around periods and engaging local municipalities in the improvement of hand hygiene facilities,” said Joséphine Edwall Björklund, Essity senior vice president of communications. “By extending our partnership with UNICEF for another three years, we are set to increase wellbeing and equality among children and young people in Mexico even further.”
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African Cleaning Review July/August 2022
