Oldham’s Servicecare snapped-up by Clipper

AN Oldham company which operates a returns service for retailers and electronics manufacturers has been sold for £5.7m.

Servicecare Support Service, which has been snapped-up by listed Yorkshire firm Clipper Logistics, counts
Argos, Richer Sounds, Panasonic, Shop Direct Group and Tefal among its customers and has annual revenues of £10.7m.

Its wholly owned subsidiary Electrotec International Ltd was acquired by Servicecare in 1999 and trades as a retail supplier, selling refurbished consumer electrical goods.

Servicecare was principally owned by CEO Jerry Day, MD Dave Aspin and Business Development Director Gary Furness. Dave Aspin will continue in his current role post-acquisition, while Jerry Day and Gary Furness will remain with the business in a consulting capacity for up to 12 months post-acquisition.

Leeds-based Clipper Logistics – which floated on the stock market earlier this year – works with major retailers including John Lewis, ASOS, Asda and Tesco.

Earlier this year it launched its “Boomerang” brand to focus on the growing requirement for returns management services by the clothing and non-electrical general merchandise sectors.

Steve Parkin, executive chairman of Clipper, said: “The purchase of Servicecare is an important step towards broadening the Boomerang brand.

“The returns arena is the battleground for competitive advantage and we are delighted to add a further string to our bow.  Servicecare is a successful and profitable business with an impressive blue chip client base that complements Clipper’s already strong market position and long-standing relationships with retailers.”