18.10.2004

Independent Access deal concluded

Vertikal.Net has received information that a deal was struck on Friday evening, October 15th, completing the acquisition of Indendent Access supplies Ltd, the ailing UK rental company that went into administration earlier this year.

The information we have confirms that the company has been aquired by one of the owners of Drivemaster a vehicle leasing and logistics company based in Burton on Trent and a financier. The majority shareholders in Independent Access will be Jeremy Cross of Drivemaster, who will assume the role of Managing director and Alex May.

A new management team will take over the day to day running of the business and will include Andrew Fishburn, previously responsible for UK sales and Euroopean marketing at JLG who becomes Sales and Marketing Director and Stuart Honeywood previously responsible for product support at JLG UK who will be Operations Director.
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Andrew Fishburn Right and Stuart Honeywood

Stuart Honeywood moved to JLG from Independent Access around five years ago, while Andrew Fishburn has worked closely with IAS from the days when it was a JLG dealer in the UKand during the setting up of JLG premier.

The 2004 Cranes&Access UK top 20 rental companies, listed IAS with 1,400 units, this is expected to drop by a further 50 to 100 units as the company emerges from administration.

JLG has categorically denied that it has any ownership or frinancial involvement in the rescued company and confirmed that it would be taking back further units from IAS for remarketing.