Member Article

Altrincham-based CorpAcq acquires United Forktrucks (1992)

CorpAcq, an Altrincham-based investment company, has acquired United Forktrucks (1992), which has its head office in Thetford, Norfolk, and employs 86 staff across its operations.

United Forktrucks is a £6.5m-turnover business which has grown organically and through a series of acquisitions.

It sells, hires out, maintains and services forklift trucks, and provides specialist training to forklift drivers.

United Forktrucks will retain its brand and identity but will operate as part of Carrylift Group, which is owned by CorpAcq.

The deal extends Carrylift’s geographical reach into new areas of the country.

It has its HQ in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, and depots in Gateshead, Glasgow, Shotton on Deeside and Stoke.

Founder and chairman of CorpAcq, Simon Orange, said: “This is our fourth acquisition in the materials handling sector and represents an excellent bolt-on for Carrylift.

“There are great operational synergies between the businesses.

“The acquisition enables Carrylift to extend its geographical reach into the south, where until now it has had little presence. It also assists Carrylift in serving national customers more effectively.

“Using the experience of Carrylift’s management team, we will be exploring opportunities to expand United Forktrucks further.

“CorpAcq continues to seek suitable acquisition opportunities with a number of deals in the pipeline for completion over the next few months.”

CorpAcq continues to expand via acquisitions this year including a packaging company.

The group also received £25m funding boost from corporate credit specialist Alcentra.

Lee Teste, of Summerlin Corporate Finance, and Mary Erb, of law firm Fieldfisher, advised CorpAcq on the United Forktrucks acquisition.

Geoff Hazlewood, head of the corporate and commercial team at East Anglian law firm Ashton KCJ, advised the United Forktruck shareholders.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .