Member Article

R&B Switchgear swoop on Merseyside rival

Lancashire-based manufacturer R&B Switchgear Services has acquired rival Merseyside firm Switchgear Integrated Maintenance (SIM) for an undisclosed sum.

The business makes electrical switchgear products and has bases in the North West, Scotland and America.

Advised on the transaction by North West law firm, SAS Daniels, R&B hopes to enhance its knowledge base and support of low voltage switchgear products made by GEC Alsthom.

SIM was founded in 2003 by James Ferguson and Bryan Lacey. The company will retain its name under the R&B Group while its founders will continue as project/contract engineers.

Mark Beswick, Managing Director at R&B Switchgear, commented: “This deal will see us benefit from adding SIM’s technical expertise to our own skills, and is a measure of our commitment to developing the R&B service lines and delivering added value to our customers.”

Head of corporate at SAS Daniels LLP, Jeremy Orrell, advised R&B on the deal, with support from Kaye Whitby, a partner in the corporate team and head of SAS Daniels’ Chester office.

He said: “Both SIM and R&B are North West success stories in challenging times for business, and by joining forces in this way their customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries.”

SIM was represented by Nick Cattell from TMG Corporate Finance and David Clinch from Hiltonlegal, whilst John Wild of PKW Accountants gave advice for R&B.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .