WHT heats up growth plans with Metaltech acquisition

Jennifer Bell, Forbes; Carole Chettoe, financial controller at WHT; Peter Carpenter, MD at WHT; Jim Akrill, PM+M; and Ian Griffin, site director at WHT.

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Advised on deals worth £300m in the first half of 2017

The heat treatment arm of Bury-based WHT Holdings has acquired Metaltech, a major player in the thermal processing of metals.

Wallwork Heat Treatment, a subsidiary of WHT Holdings, operates the group’s aerospace heat treatment facility from its Bury site as well as servicing commercial heat treatment for the north of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The most up-to-date accounts for Wallwork – the year to March 30, 2016 – show the company had a turnover of £7.1m, down from £8m the prior year.

Metaltech, which is based in County Durham, was formed in 1981 by Ron Scott. Dr Graeme Forster joined the company in the early 1990s and became its managing director.

The firm provides a range of heat treatment services to national and international clients.

Luke Collins, a graduate engineer who has worked at the Wallwork Group for 12 years, will join Dr Forster as site director at Metaltech.

Collins said: “This is a good fit for us and strengthens our range of metal heat treatments, hard coatings processes and customer service promise. Adding a facility in the North East means we can provide an even faster service to customers there and extend our transport service into Scotland, giving greater flexibility within our Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge sites for further growth.”

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The corporate finance team at PM+M – the Blackburn-based chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group – along with Forbes Solicitors’ Corporate team, acted on the deal.

The team at PM+M was led by partner Jim Akrill. The firm provided valuation services, support on the deal structure, price negotiations, financial due diligence and project management through to completion. All legal aspects were handled Jennifer Bell who is an associate and head of transport at Forbes.

Akrill said: “We have worked with WHT for some time now providing specialist tax and commercial advice and we are very proud to have supported the group with this strategic acquisition. We wish them well in this next phase of their growth strategy.”

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