HES Facilities LLC Acquires WFF Facility Services and Clean‑Tech Company

Nautic Partners Forms HES Facilities LLC and HES Acquires SMS, LLC

August 19, 2020

Education

Nautic Partners has formed HES Facilities LLC, a Knoxville-based education-focused facilities services platform, in partnership with management led by Buddy Helton and Charlie Spencer. In conjunction with the formation, HES acquired SMS, LLC (a regional facility services provider founded in 2007) and intends to grow the platform organically and via add-on acquisitions to serve K-12 and higher education customers nationally.

Clean Water Environmental Services Acquires WBE Environmental, Inc. dba Florida Silt Fencing

June 19, 2024

Environmental Services

Clean Water Environmental Services (CWES), a Rockwood Equity Partners portfolio platform, has acquired WBE Environmental, Inc. dba Florida Silt Fencing, a Florida-based erosion control and silt fence installer. Patriot Capital provided debt financing to support the add-on acquisition, and management (Joelle DeVane and Bill DeVane) will remain in leadership to ensure continuity of operations.

Fortescue (FFI) Acquires Williams Advanced Engineering

January 24, 2022

Renewable Energy

Fortescue Metals Group, via its green-energy arm Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), has agreed to acquire UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) for £164 million to accelerate development of battery and electrification technologies for decarbonising heavy industry. The deal brings WAE's high-performance battery systems, IP and engineering capability into Fortescue's green energy strategy to support zero-emission heavy mobile equipment, rail and industrial transport.

Kleen-Tech Services Acquires IFS Group, Inc.

July 17, 2023

Industrial Services

Kleen-Tech Services, a nationwide janitorial and custodial services provider based in Denver, has acquired IFS Group, a Charleston-based janitorial and facilities services firm founded in 2002. The acquisition expands Kleen-Tech’s operations into Eastern markets and adds local operational resources and client relationships in the Charleston area.

VSS-backed The HFW Companies Acquires Southwest Engineers

May 8, 2025

Engineering Services

The HFW Companies, a St. Louis-based architecture and engineering (AE) platform backed by VSS Capital Partners, has acquired Southwest Engineers, a Texas-based civil engineering firm specializing in wastewater treatment and water storage. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal marks HFW's 10th partner firm as it continues a buy-and-build growth strategy supported by VSS.

EQT Infrastructure Acquires Majority Stake in Heritage Environmental Services

December 11, 2023

Environmental Services

EQT Infrastructure VI has agreed to acquire a majority position in Heritage Environmental Services (HES) from The Heritage Group. HES, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, operates 37 regulated facilities in the U.S., employs roughly 1,600 people, and provides industrial and hazardous waste management, on‑site support, emergency response and sustainability services to more than 1,800 customers; EQT says it will support HES's growth, digitalization and operational improvements.