Hereford removals firm GB Liners expands footprint with new acquisition

HEREFORDSHIRE storage and removals firm, GB Liners, has expanded following a new acquisition.

The Hereford-headquartered company has increased its national presence by acquiring Aberdeen-based Clark and Rose.

Established in 1946, GB Liners provides home removal, records management and storage solutions to homeowners and business customers, operating from eleven offices across the UK.

The deal was backed by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking which provided an overdraft and seven-figure asset finance facility to support the purchase.

The acquisition of Clark and Rose will extend GB Liners existing presence in Scotland, where it already has bases in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Clark and Rose also has a European base in Paris, which GB Liners will assume management of, adding to the company’s European and international removal services.

The deal will also increase the number of customers the business serves each year by a third to more than 5,000.

GB Liners plans to retain the Clark and Rose brand but aims to replace the business’ 20 removal trucks and invest in capital to grow the firm’s assets.

Anna Yates, director at GB Liners, said: “The purchase of Clark and Rose will help us increase our operational flexibility in the Scotland, allowing us to provide more customers in the country with an efficient and reliable removal service. The funding provided by Lloyds Bank has been fundamental in enabling us to take this strategic step.”

Mark Smith, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “GB Liners is a long-standing and valued customer of Lloyds Bank, so we were pleased to be instructed to support the purchase through a variety of funding facilities. The acquisition will further cement GB Liners’ position as one of the UK’s leading operators in the sector.”