BlackArch Partners Advises AEA Investors on the sale of National Carwash Solutions

a portfolio company of

has been acquired by

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 5, 2021) – BlackArch Partners LLC (“BlackArch”) is pleased to announce the sale of National Carwash Solutions (“NCS” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of AEA Investors (“AEA”), to Berkshire Partners (“Berkshire”). 

National Carwash Solutions is a leading provider of car wash equipment, services and solutions to customers in North America.  NCS offers its customers a fully integrated suite of offerings to meet all their operational needs, including car wash systems, aftermarket parts, cleaning fluids, and vacuums – all supported through its industry-leading distribution and services footprint. The company goes to market with an integrated portfolio of reputable brands, including MacNeil Wash Systems, Ryko Solutions, CleanTouch Cleaning Solutions, Cleaning Systems Inc., TSS Car Wash Services and Vacutech Vacuums. By providing a comprehensive range of offerings, NCS serves a critical role in enabling the success of a diverse set of customers, including convenience store and retail car wash operators.

Berkshire has acquired NCS with the expectation of furthering management’s vision for long-term growth. Through an aggressive growth strategy executed during AEA’s ownership, NCS meaningfully expanded its product and service offerings, customer base, and North American footprint – becoming the first and only platform to offer a vertically-integrated, comprehensive end-to-end suite of products and solutions for the vehicle-care market. The leadership team will remain active and an integral part of the shareholder group during the Company’s next chapter of growth.

BlackArch was retained by AEA and management to serve as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor.   The transaction continues BlackArch’s industry-leading presence in the car wash, vehicle care and field services sectors and is representative of the firm’s focus on providing unique M&A advisory services to market-leading businesses.

“I place an immense amount of trust in the BlackArch team – this was my second experience working with BlackArch, and they once again showed relentless drive and leadership in support of our next chapter,” said Michael Gillen, Chief Executive Officer of National Carwash Solutions. “BlackArch’s intimate knowledge of NCS’ history and our vision for the future of the company was crucial in articulating the opportunity to potential partners, and we could not be happier with the outcome.  The NCS team is extremely appreciative of BlackArch’s deep commitment, constant professionalism and trusted counsel throughout the process – they truly served as an invaluable extension of the NCS team.”

About National Carwash Solutions

NCS is a leading full-service fluids and systems provider to the vehicle-care industry, serving customers in North America for more than 45 years, and supporting car wash operators who wash millions of vehicles every year. The company provides comprehensive systems and aftermarket support, including service, parts, and environmentally friendly cleaning fluids. NCS operates a family of brands that provide systems, nationwide support, and a complete chemical line, including MacNeil Wash Systems, Ryko Solutions, Cleaning Systems, Inc. (CSI), CleanTouch Cleaning Solutions, NCS College of Clean, and Vacutech. The company also has strategic partnerships with many top car wash distributors in North America, including Arizona Car Wash Systems, Auto-Clean, Badger Land, Complete Car Wash, Hi-Performance Wash Systems, and NuLook. Its offerings are backed by the largest service network in North America, with more than 280 dedicated service technicians. To learn more, visit www.ncswash.com.

About AEA Investors

AEA Investors LP was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors (“Participants”) and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA’s approximately 90 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York, Connecticut, London, Munich and Shanghai. The firm manages funds that have approximately $15 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle market companies and small business companies and mezzanine and senior debt investments. AEA Private Equity invests across three sectors: value added industrials, consumer and services. AEA SBF is a strategy within AEA that currently manages over $1.8 billion of invested and committed capital. The team seeks to help grow and transform companies at the lower end of the middle market by sponsoring growing companies with proven management teams and superior business models. For additional information, visit www.aeainvestors.com.

About Berkshire Partners

Berkshire Partners, a Boston-based investment firm, has made more than 130 private equity investments since its founding over 30 years ago. Berkshire Private Equity has developed sector experience in multiple areas including business services & technology, communications, consumer, healthcare and industrials. The firm has a strong history of partnering with management teams to grow the companies in which it invests. For additional information, and to see a full list of the firm’s investments, visit www.berkshirepartners.com.

About BlackArch Partners

BlackArch Partners is a leading middle-market investment bank offering a full spectrum of advisory services to financial sponsors, private companies and diversified corporations. BlackArch addresses the needs of owner-operators, founders and shareholders of private companies with specialized services that include M&A advisory, strategic advisory and private capital solutions. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with offices in Chicago, Illinois, BlackArch features a total of 12 industry-focused practices that cover all sectors of interest to middle-market investors; BlackArch professionals have closed more than 350 transactions in 16 countries on four continents. Please visit our website, www.blackarchpartners.com, for more details.

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