Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has advised global private equity firm Warburg Pincus on its sale of Safetykleen Europe, the largest service provider of surface treatment and chemical application services, to funds advised by Apax Partners.

Safetykleen Europe was established in 1973 and is headquartered in London. It operates in 14 countries, principally in Europe, as well as Brazil, China and Turkey and employs over 1,600 people, providing more than 700,000 services each year to over 100,000 industrial parts cleaners across a broad spectrum of industries.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the Q3 2017. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Freshfields team was led by partner and co-head of the firm’s global financial investors group Adrian Maguire, with support from associates Dan Clarke and Yasmine Amr.