Paul Cox developed his own dry waste business in the early 1990s, before helping create WasteFile in 1999, then leading a management buyout in 2001.
Telford-based WasteFile was acquired in July 2006 by Englefield Capital (now Bregal Capital) in a transaction led by Mark Sapsford.
Renamed Reconomy Solutions, the business transformed into a holding company for the development of a recycling business with trucks and depots.
Following a string of acquisitions – including Eurokey and Valpak – the initial private equity investment transformed Reconomy into one of the fastest-growing circular economy companies with revenues topping £1bn and operations in 30 countries by 2022.
Following the economic crash of 2008, CEO Paul Cox re-focused Reconomy on technology, data for customers, and service propositions for a broader range of sectors including infrastructure, utilities and commercial industry. Part of the business was sold to Viridor.
Bregal Capital spun out some of their portfolio to newco EMK Capital - owned by initial Reconomy investor Edmund Lazarus – which remains the current majority shareholder.
Paul Cox stepped down as CEO in 2023 and was replaced by Guy Wakeley.
Bregal says that the company “has delivered outstanding growth in sales and profitability through key customer relationships in the housebuilding, construction, utilities and FM sectors.”
Wastefile shareholders were advised by Mark Sapsford.
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Paul Cox, ex-CEO
Wastefile (aka Reconomy Group)
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