Waste water specialist Oneline Surveys sold to Adler and Allan

PKF Francis Clark has advised on the sale of Oneline Surveys Limited to Adler and Allan Limited.

Oneline is a specialist drainage cleaning and surveying company, headquartered in Wellington, Somerset, and operating across the South of England and into Wales.

Oneline’s services include CCTV drainage surveys, sewer cleaning, tank cleaning and tanker services, as well as specialist projects including confined space entry, siphon cleaning, deep suction works and specialist tank cleaning projects.

Established in 2006 by Ian and Stuart Johnson, the family business has evolved from a small operation with two CCTV vans and five staff into an established company with a well invested, specialist fleet of 29 vehicles and extensive expertise across its 30 staff.

The acquisition is another example of a family business based in our region being recognised by a much larger, national business as an attractive acquisition target.

Established in 1926, Adler and Allan provides public and private sector businesses with environmental risk reduction services covering both emergency response and scheduled maintenance across a range of critical asset infrastructure and contaminants. Acquired by an affiliate of Sun European Partners in 2020, they are the UK’s leading supplier of spill response, technical, fuel and environmental risk reduction services across 50 sectors, from defence, fuel and forecourt to waste and telecom infrastructure, providing 24/7 emergency coverage 365 days a year.

Robert Evans, environmental services director at Adler and Allan, said: “This acquisition will allow us to offer a more extensive environmental risk audit of our customers’ underground infrastructure so they can better manage and mitigate risk. It will also position us as the go-to leader in emergency response to sewerage pollution incidents.”

Stuart Johnson, Oneline’s joint managing director, will remain with the business and also work within the wider Adler and Allan Group.

Oneline was advised by PKF Francis Clark (corporate finance) and Stephens Scown (legal). Adler and Allan were advised by RSM (Financial Due Diligence) and DLA Piper (legal). Adler and Allan were introduced to the transaction by PKF Francis Clark via Langcliffe MergerConnect.

The PKF Francis Clark team comprised Paul Crocker, Dave Armstrong, Chris Bishop and Sam Shute, with tax support from Adam Kefford.

Stuart Johnson said: “Paul, Dave and the PKF Francis Clark team made the process as smooth as it could have been. They were professional but very personable so I can’t recommend them highly enough. Hopefully I will get the chance to work with them all again in the future.”

Dave Armstrong, corporate finance director at PKF Francis Clark, said: “The acquisition demonstrates that environmental concerns over levels of pollution, contamination and waste will continue to drive growth in this sector. It is also another example of a family business based in our region being recognised by a much larger, national business as an attractive acquisition target.

“It was a pleasure working with Stuart and his father, Ian, and we look forward to the next chapter in the Oneline story under the ownership of Adler and Allan.”

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