Leicester surveying company swoops to create 100-strong firm

Leicester-based SML Group has secured funding from Ashby’s ThinCats to buy specialist rail surveying company, Geo-Info.

The value of the deal is undisclosed.

The SML Group is the holding company for a group of businesses dedicated to the land, building and valuations surveying sector. It was established in 2007.

Geo-Info specialises in underground mapping and surveying to the rail and engineering sectors and operates across England, Ireland and Scotland.

Tom Harpin, managing director of SML Group, said: “This acquisition will enable us to compete with the top surveying businesses in the country, with a substantial market share and over 100 staff. Rather than being content to consolidate our position in the market, the ThinCats facility has given us the additional working capital we need to accelerate our growth.”

He continued: “We had received a number of offers from other lenders, but what made ThinCats stand out was the human aspect. I felt that they were genuinely interested in what I had done before and what I am looking to achieve in the future. We definitely look forward to building our relationship and to working with them again on further acquisitions.”

Geraint Regan, director, regional business development, ThinCats, added: “Midlands based SML Group is going from strength to strength and we are proud to be supporting them at this important time in their development. This acquisition creates a very strong platform from which the Group can continue to drive its growth strategy. We are excited at the prospect of working with Tom on future acquisitions to expand the range of surveying activities into other connected areas in the market.”