Warrington investment group starts on acquisition trail

A WARRINGTON-based investment group has launched with the purchase of two businesses in the healthcare and financial services sectors.

Privately-owned Daresbury Services Group has bought healthcare software provider IMS Maxims, based in Woburne Sands, and corporate finance and leasing firm Total Asset Finance, for undisclosed sums.

DSG, which privately funded both deals, said it aims to build assets of more than £100m, with the two acquisitions being the first in a series to expand the group in the finance and healthcare markets.

A spokesperson for DSG said: “We are confident that the newly created DSG will become a name to watch in the market place for purchasing innovative and growing companies in both the healthcare and financial sectors.

“With our combined experience and investment power, we believe that companies who become part of the overall group will see considerable benefits.”

Total Asset Finance is based in Warrington and currently has 25 employees. IMS employs 75 people across two sites in Buckinghamshire and Dublin and supplies software to both the NHS and private sector health organisations.

DSG will own 100% of both companies, but the operations will continue to run independently.

It was advised by law firm Hammonds, with support from Barclays corporate team in Liverpool.

Ian Gillis, corporate partner at Hammonds in Manchester said, “This illustrates that there is an appetite in the local market for deals of this nature to be done. The key ingredient in the transaction was DSG’s strong and dynamic management team, which helped to ensure it was tied up in a smooth and uncomplicated manner.”