Services company ISS UK has acquired National Cleaning, the contract cleaning business of DL Services Ltd, boosting its presence in Wales and the West of England. National has a current annualised turnover of around £6.5 million and employs 1,100 people, over half of them full-time. The company's operating margin is expected to be above the ISS Group’s target level of 6%.

National has a strong regional presence in Wales, including Cardiff and Swansea, and in the West of England, including Bristol. Customers include several large financial institutions and local authorities.

This is the latest in a number of regional acquisitions by ISS UK, which aims to build a nationwide strategic platform for multi-service and specialist service provision. Lyn Evans, Managing Director, and Diane Thomas, Sales Director, will remain with National to ensure customer retention and projected growth.

• Meanwhile, ISS Denmark has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in that country to take over most of the work of the Technical and Cleaning departments of the Palaces and Properties Agency from next month.

The Agency's has over a 100 service contracts for cleaning and technical maintenance of public buildings and institutions. Its 370 employees will remain with unchanged conditions in terms of pay, employment and place of work.

Richard Byatt