US group Sammons Enterprises has bought the materials handling division of Finning (UK), which distributes Caterpillar equipment. Dallas-based Sammons is one of the world’s largest privately owned companies with assets in excess of US$30 billion. The acquisition will become part of Sammons’ equipment distribution division, which also incorporates Briggs Equipment UK.
The materials handling business is the national distributor of Cat Lift Trucks’ warehouse and counterbalance equipment in the UK and employs about 1,000 staff. The business has offices in Cannock, Staffordshire, St Helens and Livingstone in Scotland. The staff will be TUPE transferred to the new owner, and the company will operate as Briggs Equipment UK supplying and servicing Caterpillar branded materials handling equipment.
Briggs Equipment UK director Dave Bratton said: “Sammons Enterprises is committed to growing its materials handling business and Briggs Equipment has earned an excellent reputation in the US marketplace. The acquisition represents good news for both customers and staff within the former Finning materials handling division as Briggs Equipment UK will be able to develop the business further and focus upon it as a core business.”
Sammons Enterprises includes wholly-owned and affiliated businesses in industries such as financial services, equipment distribution, hospitality-real estate, health sciences and technology services among others.
