25.07.2005

VP acquires Pivotal Services

VP owner of UK forks, the telehandler hire specialist, and Hire Station/ Safeforce has acquired Pivotal Services Group Ltd, and ESS safety services, from Babcock International Group Plc via its Hire Station Ltd subsidiary.

VP paid £4.5 million for the business and assets of Pivotal; the net asset value of the acquired entity is roughly £2.1 million.

Pivotal Services Group includes, ESS Safety Services and Pivotal training, ESS provides a wide range of safety systems, including the provision of pipeline inspection and gas detection devices and the supply of work at height items such as harnesses and all manner of fall arrest equipment.

Pivotal Training, offers a wide range of courses including confined space, health and safety, environmental and management development training the businesses are located in Wellingborough, Leeds, Brentwood and Glasgow.

ESS will be merged with Hire Station’s Safeforce division; the combined business will trade as ESS Safeforce, and provide a comprehensive rental, sale and maintenance service for safety products to the UK market. . Pivotal Training, which will continue to trade under its existing name,

“We are very pleased to have secured this acquisition which represents a unique opportunity for Hire Station to acquire the market leader in safety equipment provision and confined space training. Hire Station’s specialist products and services business will be significantly enhanced as a result of this acquisition” said Jeremy Pilkington, VP Chairman.