13.09.2006

Certex Buys into defence

Certex UK, the lifting gear distributor has purchased Global Defence Procurement Ltd, (GDP). a military and commercial supply and service company based in the Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth from the administrator, appointed in August.

GDP provides sales and servicing for a wide range of marine and industrial equipment to the Ministry of Defence and its prime contractors, as well as to the commercial, leisure and fishing industries.

The company’s facilities include a fully MCA approved servicing station covering such items as rescue boats, life rafts and life jackets. Other products supplied by the company include: personal protective equipment; ropes, wires and other lifting products; navigation equipment; fire-fighting equipment; and diving apparatus.
Please register to see all images

Tony Stringer, MD of Certex (L) with Derek Foster, MD of GDP

The company also has an office at the Portsmouth Naval Base, as well as its own rigging house that manufactures most military specified items.

GDP will continue to trade from its current facilities but will be absorbed into Certex UK. Tony Stringer, Certex managing director, said. “Although there is obvious synergy between the companies and services they offer, their client bases are very separate. This deal will give Certex an ideal opportunity to grow as a business and also expand into market sectors where it is not currently represented, particularly in the field of military procurement.

“As for GDP, the organisation will be able to continue trading under its current remit backed by the security of a nationally based company like Certex, while still offering customers a specialist service at a very local and personal level,” he added.

Global Defence Procurement Ltd was set up in 2002 to exploit the increasing commercialisation of the defence industry. Since this time it has grown into a significant specialist supplier.

The four-year-old company entered administration last month and Certex put in an offer for its assets and goodwill, which has been accepted by administrators – Begbies Traynor.

Derek Foster, managing director and founder of Global Defence Procurement, will continue to manage the business at a local level. “We were keen to find a new home for the company that would give the best future to our employees and customers,” he said. “Certex has an excellent reputation within the industry for both quality and service and we are looking forward to a bright future within that organisation.