September has seen an unprecedented number of mergers and acquisitions in the grounds care business as no less than three new groupings are formed.
An agreement has been reached with Mark Barthelmie, the major shareholder of Risborough Turfcare Supplies Ltd, whereby the Turner Group will acquire Risborough Turfcare Supplies Ltd (more commonly known as Risboro’ Turf or RTS) during October 2000. This agreement is subject to contract.
Turners, based in Glasgow and with an annual turnover in excess of £150 million, already owns two grounds care operations, one in Cheshire and the other in Hemel Hempstead.
The take-over, which has the full blessing of the major companies with whom RTS trade, including John Deere, Allett Mowers and Etesia, is anticipated to strengthen the Group’s holdings and operations in the professional grounds care sector.
RTS’s range of turfcare products is included in the agreement and Mr Barthelmie will remain with the Group to develop and strengthen sales of RTS products both in the UK and abroad. The existing staff at the Bledlow depot of RTS will be retained.
Richard Long will also be remaining with the new owners of his family company, which will trade as Long Equipment Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blagg & Johnson Ltd, who were established in 1921 and have a wealth of experience in the engineering industry. The new business will continue to trade from the existing premises in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Richard Long continues as Technical Director and the more rapid growth of the established ‘Long Equip’ product name will be promoted.
Redexim Charterhouse is the parent company of Charterhouse Turf Machinery. Based in Holland, the company’s strategy is to grow by gaining strength in niche market areas within the turf industry. The products manufactured by Pro-Seed will complement the existing range of Redexim Charterhouse and benefit from world-wide distribution. Ken Knowles, Managing Director of Pro-Seed Equipment, said that he was delighted that several months negotiations had come to a successful conclusion and that his whole company would now receive the benefits which flow from being part of a larger group. He will continue working in conjunction with the Group’s engineering department which is based in Holland.