Fluid handling products business broadens its offering with acquisition
AxFlow UK, a Huddersfield-based fluid handling solutions business, has acquired Retford-headquartered Moody Direct, a supplier of services to the dairy, food & beverage, brewery, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Moody Direct provides spares, components and services covering a range of hygienic equipment. These include pumps, valves, homogenisers, separators and heat exchangers.
This complements AxFlow’s expertise, providing a platform to introduce AxFlow’s fluid-handling product portfolio to a wider customer base.
Neil Langdown, managing director of AxFlow UK, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Moody to the AxFlow family. Their expertise in hygienic sales & servicing and reputation for best-in-class customer service will strengthen AxFlow’s existing position in the UK.
“Moreover, this will enhance our onsite service capability and enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive service offering for homogenisers, separators and plate heat exchangers.”
Ken Wild, director of Moody, added: “Moody’s success has been built on technical expertise and a commitment to customer satisfaction.
“Joining forces with AxFlow UK not only strengthens our ability to serve customers in our core segments of F&B and Dairy but also opens up new avenues for growth, particularly in the processing industries.”
Shorts’ Corporate Finance team were lead advisers to Moody Direct, while Wake Smith solicitors provided legal advice to the sellers.
Andy Ryder, corporate finance partner at Shorts, said: “We are pleased to have successfully concluded this transaction on behalf of the owners of Moody Direct, Ken and David.
“It has been a pleasure for our team of myself, Adam Ames, Brian Gooch and Ahad Choudry to work with them on this international deal and we look forward to hearing of the continued success of this great business as it becomes part of the Swedish-owned Axel Johnson AB Group, giving it access to further fantastic opportunities.”
Rebecca Robinson, director and head of company commercial at Wake Smith, said: “It was a privilege to act on this transaction.
“Wake Smith has acted for the Moody group for over 20 years, so it was a real pleasure to be able to assist the shareholders in achieving a successful exit after all their years of hard work and dedication to the business.”
