Group snaps up plant hire company with depots across the north

Leeds-headquartered plant hire business, Chippindale Plant, has been acquired by AER Rents, part of the O’Flaherty Holdings group in Ireland.

Founded by Wilfred Chippindale in 1949, the company has grown steadily and is now one of the largest privately owned hire and sales companies in the UK.

Sentio Partners and Gordons advised the shareholders of Chippindale Plant on the sale. Will Arnold from Sentio Partners provided corporate finance advice and Jonathan Asquez, Lisa Murphy and Lauren Wurzal from Gordons advised on the legal aspects of the sale.

Chippindale Plant provides a hire & sales service for plant, tools, attachments and site accommodation throughout northern England and beyond.

Operating from its head office in Leeds it has eight depots in Leeds, Catterick, Huddersfield, Keighley, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and York, employing 120 staff.

Nigel and Peter Chippindale, who joined the company in the 1980s, will continue in their current leadership roles as joint-MDs.

This latest acquisition strengthens AER Rents UK presence, allowing the group to offer a widened range of products and services to its customers, including the option to purchase new equipment through Chippindale’ dealership agreements with Volvo, Bomag, Mecalac, Epiroc, Atlas Copco, Stihl & Belle Group.

O’Flaherty Holdings is well known in Ireland, primarily through its role in the development of the Irish motor industry.

Founded in the 1940s by motor industry entrepreneur, the late Stephen O’Flaherty, the group continues to be owned and managed by members of the O’Flaherty family.

The group first invested in plant hire in 2014 with the acquisition of London-based Mr Plant Hire and in 2020 also acquired Ireland-based Drogheda Hire & Sales & Midlands-based Mainline Group. Last year AER Rents purchased Welfare 4 Hire, a specialist mobile welfare provider.

AER Rents was advised by KPMG Corporate Finance & Legal Services, Dublin, with legal support from Shoosmiths in Manchester.

Nigel and Peter Chippindale said: “AER Rents is a perfect fit not only for Chippindale Plant and its employees, but also for our customers.

“AER Rents is a forward-thinking organisation with an eye on expansion. The acquisition will allow us access to significant further investment to enhance and expand the range of equipment we offer.

“We’re really looking forward to working with the AER Rents team and their existing plant hire companies.”

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