ISS enters Argentina by acquiring two sister service companies, Marubia SA and Marubia Sudamericana SA, both centrally located in Buenos Aires. The two companies, which are among Argentina’s 10 largest cleaning companies, have a combined turnover of approximately £6.3m and employ 1,000 people - mainly full-time.

Marubia is focusing on clients with a demand for cleaning of large areas. The customer portfolio thus includes a number of retail outlets, shopping centres and hyper-markets. Hugo Deibe, who established the company in 1985, is the current president and majority shareholder of the two companies and will continue as ISS’s country manager for Argentina.

Mr Deibe commented: "I have developed the company to the point where we needed greater resources to develop further. Having seen ISS growing in both Brazil and internationally on many fronts over the years, I feel this is the ideal option for Marubia, our clients and for the Argentine industry. Staying with ISS will allow for the full realisation I have foreseen"

Stuart Graham, ISS Group COO, said: "Marubia has an excellent reputation with a strong focus on quality. The acquisition will support the ISS Group’s strategy by both enhancing our global presence and by offering multi-service concepts to Marubia’s current and potential customer base."

Anna Lagerkvist