Altrad adds NSG to its UK portfolio

Altrad the French scaffolding and light equipment company has acquired 100% of the shares of NSG UK, just weeks after buying another UK company Beaver 84.

NSG is a supplier of scaffolding services, access solutions, thermal insulation, industrial cleaning and industrial painting whereas Beaver 84's activities include fencing and ground works with its scaffolding business.

Dr Mohed Altrad said that this latest acquisition brought a company with a wealth of experience to Altrad. "NSG is highly professional with safety at the core of the values and with a strong, highly driven management team headed up by Mike Carr as managing director."

NSG has approximately 320 employees and a turnover of £20 million per annum. The business has its head office located in Deeside and Mr Carr will continue to head up the business with his team. The company's principle activities are scaffolding services (including erecting the scaffolding), access solutions, thermal insulation, industrial cleaning and industrial painting.

Altrad believes that there is a tremendous opportunity for this business to expand in the UK organically or through strategic acquisitions of companies with similar activities to provide customers with a full UK coverage.

This acquisition forms part of a bigger plan to provide the UK market with services and products from Altrad, which specialises in the manufacture and sales of scaffolding, cement mixers and wheelbarrows, together with providing additional services in the scaffolding sector.

The addition of NSG brings the total of Altrad companies up to 54 with the majority being located in Europe and several outside of Europe across the world.

2010/2011 will be a record year for the Altrad Group, with its head quarters located in Montpellier in the south of France. The strategy of the Altrad group has proved to be resilient even through a deep recession and the business is now well positioned for another substantial phase of growth both organic and through acquisitions.

Previously Dr Altrad has made successful UK acquisitions of Beaver 84, Belle and BarOmix. This fourth acquisition adds to the services Altrad can offer to the UK customer base. NSG is already a user of the Altrad owned Plettac Contur multidirectional system scaffolding supplied by Altrad Belle in the UK.

Dr Altrad is very keen to hear from companies that are interested in joining the Altrad group if they are involved in any element of scaffolding, cement mixers or wheelbarrows. He said that ideally acquisition targets are likely to have a turnover in excess of £10m.