History
In 1946, Ian McMullin founded Spotless as a dry-cleaning business at 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Australia[2][3][4] In 1957, the business was incorporated as Spotless Pty Ltd. It was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) as Spotless Limited in 1961.
In 1970, it expanded into New Zealand through Nationwide Food Services. In 1971, it acquired a local garment hanger supply business. In 1972, Ian McMullin, the founder of the company, retires to director.[2] In 1977, the company expanded into the industrial laundry space with the acquisition of a 50% interest in Ensign, the remaining 50% was acquired in 1981; and into New Zealand market through laundry business acquisitions.
The company acquired Nationwide Food Services and O’Brien in 1984. It had its first company contract with the Australian Department of Defence in 1987. Acquired Plastiform (US-based) to expand internationally. With an increased scale of the New Zealand laundries business with the acquisition of 55% of Taylors (New Zealand Stock Exchange listed laundry services business) in 1991; the remaining 45% was acquired in 2009. Bruce Dixon was appointed CEO in 2012, he restructured the company around industry segments (rather than service sectors) to promote Spotless as an "integrated services provider", he also promoted open communication and pushing decision making and responsibility.
In 2014, the company was relisted on the ASX under the code SPO. Also in 2014, the company had acquired the national security company ACG, launches it under the new brand Techguard Security (TGS);[5] in 2015, AE Smith, a commercial air-conditioning and mechanical services contractor; Utility Services Group (USG), rebranded as Utility Asset Services Group (UASG);[5] and Prime Laundries to increase laundry processing volumes. In 2015/16, Spotless also took over ACG, a security company, and renamed it Techguard. Spotless acquires Nuvo, an electrical and technology services company, in 2016.[6]
In 2017, Downer Group launched a hostile takeover bid gaining control in June 2017.[7][8]
- 1993 Enhanced catering offering with the acquisition of Mustard Catering, a large Western Australia based up-market catering group
- 1999 Strengthened facility maintenance and cleaning capabilities with the acquisition of Support Services businesses from P&O in Australia and New Zealand
- 2001 Acquired Braitrim (UK based), which was merged with Plastiform to further expand garment hanger manufacturing and supply capability.
- 2001 Acquired Epicure Catering providing exposure to high end, boutique catering services and further extending capabilities across catering services
- 2004 Won its first PPP project for social infrastructure to provide facilities services for New South Wales schools
- 2006–2008 Acquisition of Alliance Catering. Ian McMullin (founder), Ron Evans and Brian Blythe stepped down from Board 2006–08.
- 2009 Expanded facility management capability by extending service maintenance product lines into painting with the acquisition of Riley Shelley, a painting and refurbishment business
- 2010 Obtained secondary listing on New Zealand Stock Exchange.
- 2010 Entered into the international facility services market with the acquisition of CE Property Services — Cleanevent and CleanDomain
- 2012 Taken private by Pacific Industrial Services — an entity owned by the PEP Shareholders, the Coinvestment Shareholders and Management Shareholders.
