ServiceMaster enters European pest control market

ServiceMaster acquired Nomor Holding AB — a Stockholm, Sweden-based pest control company with operations in Sweden and Norway. Nomor is reportedly the fourth largest pest control company in Europe.

From left are Paul Giannamore of Potomac; Tony DiLucente, CFO of ServiceMaster; and Svein Olav Stölen, CEO of Nomor. PHOTO: THE POTOMAC CO.

ServiceMaster acquired Nomor from Norvestor, a Nordic private equity firm focused on investing in Nordic mid-cap companies.

“We are incredibly excited to have the Nomor team join us as we launch our global expansion strategy and enter the large and growing European pest market,” says Nik Varty, CEO of ServiceMaster, in a press release. “As we have shared with our investors and employees, we have global aspirations, and these partners will help us execute our strategy through the established and successful platform they built in Sweden and Norway. Our new colleagues and their seasoned management team will provide us with local expertise, experienced in driving organic growth and profitability.”

Nomor is a provider of pest control and hygiene services in both Sweden and Norway, where it operates the well-known Pelias brand, with a head office in Elverum, Norway. Its pest control and hygiene services include preventive pest measures, food safety services, inspection and sanitation of mold and fungi. It has deep relationships with the insurance industry in both countries and has secured its strong position in the market through a combination of organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.

A nationwide network of local technicians makes Nomor the number two player in both Norway and Sweden. The company has about 500 employees and approximately 30,000 customers across Sweden and Norway.

From left are Ian Poppelman (Norvestor), Karl Svozilik (Norvestor), Fredrik Korterud (Norvestor), Sten Hedbäck (TÖRNGREN MAGNELL), Svein Olav Stölen (Nomor), Kim Lehmusvuori (Norvestor), Paul Giannamore (Potomac), Jakob Sellgren (Nomor) and Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd (ABG). PHOTO: THE POTOMAC CO.

“ServiceMaster is going to be a great home for Nomor,” says Svein Olav Stölen, CEO of Nomor, in a press release. “Together, we will build off our already strong position in the European market. With my fantastic team and experts, and together with a world-leading pest control services organization, it’s going to be a winning concept.”

Stölen explained to PMP that the merger is mutually beneficial. Nomor will aid ServiceMaster’s plans for expansion in the fragmented European pest control market, while ServiceMaster will support Nomor’s efforts to strengthen its brands in the highly competitive Scandinavian market.

The current management team will stay in place and report to Dion Persson, senior VP of strategy and international operations for ServiceMaster.

Stölen reports that Nomor’s branding will remain the same and that the company will continue to conduct business as usual.

ServiceMaster was advised by Foros, McDermott Will & Emery, Mannheimer Swartling (Sweden) and Advokatfirmaet Thommessen (Norway). Nomor was advised by The Potomac Co., ABG Sundal Collier (Norway) and Törngren Magnell (Sweden).