Marine consultancy swallowed by insurance giant
International insurance services company Thomas Miller has acquired Liverpool-based marine consultancy Brookes Bell for an undisclosed sum.
Brookes Bell is a leading marine technical and surveying practice with offices also in London, Glasgow, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
It has served the marine and energy industries since 1903, providing specialist services in areas including emergency response, casualty investigation, salvage and wreck removal operations, scientific cargo expertise, forensic engineering and expert witness services.
The firm is also a specialist in research and development of ship design support to enhance maritime safety and technology and employs a renowned group of marine engineers, civil engineers, master mariners, naval architects, cargo and fuel scientists, fire investigators and metallurgists.
Thomas Miller chairman Hugo Wynn Williams said: “Brookes Bell’s long-recognised expertise across international marine and energy markets will make an excellent and complementary addition to the Thomas Miller Group.”
Brookes Bell managing partner Colin Kershaw said: “Thomas Miller is a business that very much shares the values, vision and foresight of Brookes Bell and we are delighted to have taken this next step in our journey towards further growth and diversity.
“Brookes Bell will continue to operate independently, with no changes to our brand or operational structure, to provide independent and highly respected expert consultancy services to new and existing clients while, crucially, having access to investment to expand.”
A KPMG’s corporate finance team led by director Mark Booth and supported from a sector perspective by Rob Logue, in addition to Will Griffith and Indre Lisauskaite, advised Brookes Bell on the deal.
Tax advice was provided by KPMG (Nick Pheasey, Steve Porteous and Faisal Kamil) and legal advice was provided by Brabners (Michael Brabner, David Maples and David Seddon).
