Muckle LLP helps px Group acquire Fairport Engineering
We’re delighted to have assisted leading infrastructure solutions business, px Group, as it acquired Fairport Engineering, in a deal that is set to supercharge the group’s international and domestic growth strategy.
Headquartered in Stockton on Tees, px Group is an award-winning, fully integrated solutions business delivering management services for high hazard and highly regulated environments. The company has acquired Fairport Engineering, engineering and materials handling specialist, in a deal for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition is the next step in px Group’s international and domestic growth strategy, which comprises both acquisitive and organic growth streams.
Regional importance
Fairport Engineering is a long-established firm of engineers operating in the North of England, providing engineering solutions to a variety of industries including Power, Biomass, minerals and advanced recycling.
This is a strategically important move given Fairport’s strong footprint in the North West and its industry leading materials handling capabilities. In acquiring Fairport, px Group now has an engineering base in the North West of England and a third base in the North East, where it already has significant presence (Teesside HQ, Saltend Chemicals Park) and in Scotland.
A new future
Until now, px Group has not had an ‘in-house’ materials handling offering but now, through the Fairport team, will be able to offer materials handling design, construction and management both nationally and internationally. Materials handling expertise is required to be able to transport, import and export materials such as fuels, feedstock, as well as product, from both single industrial plants and large-scale sites.
Geoff Holmes, CEO of px Group says: “We are thrilled to be adding Fairport’s expertise to px Group’s offering - the company is full of brilliant people who are experts in their field. We would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to Neil Hyde, Neil Hargrave, and their teams.
“This is a strategically important move for px Group, given Fairport’s strong footprint in the North West and its industry-leading materials handling capabilities. The company has had a strong financial performance in recent years and should integrate seamlessly into our business model.
“The Fairport teams are trusted experts. When we conducted our due diligence, clients and stakeholders could not have been more glowing about Fairport’s people and the way they work. That approach has been instilled by Fairport’s departing Chairman, Paul Fitton, and we are therefore delighted that Paul will still be available to support the business on a consultancy basis.
Adam Rayner at Muckle said: “It’s been great to help px Group secure the significant acquisition of Fairport Engineering, and to work with Dan, Sarah, Geoff and their teams again.”
The legal advice and negotiations were led by Adam Rayner, Corporate Partner with the support of Stephanie Brown, Corporate Associate, and Louise Duffy, Partner and Head of Banking.
To find out how we can help your business, contact Adam Rayner on 0191 211 7962 or [email protected].