Northumberland transport and warehousing specialist Dedicated Transport Solutions (DTS) has been snapped up by private equity firm Winch & Co.
The undisclosed deal for Cramlington-based DTS – providers of warehousing, rush deliveries and abnormal load haulers – will see Leeds-based Winch & Co also take control of the 250,000-square-foot Nelson Park West base from the company.
It follows Winch & Co’s acquisition of Loughbrough-based Eclipse Distribution Solutions as part of a plan to acquire five logistics businesses for its portfolio.
Read more: Fat Hippo to open nine new burger restaurants creating 200 new jobs
Winch & Co was founded by South Yorkshire entrepreneur Nathan Winch, who sold his first business in 2017. The business, based in central Leeds with 100 full-time staff, invests in UK companies operating in the areas of consumer products, industrial and service industries, as well as the deployment of dynamic growth capital.
Mr. Winch said, “This latest acquisition brings us one step closer to our goal of acquiring five transportation companies, and DTS now takes its place alongside Eclipse Distribution Solutions, which we purchased last October.
“If there’s anything the Covid pandemic has taught us, it’s the importance of logistics and warehousing. Without carriers like DTS and Eclipse, the nation would be paralyzed.
“While these two companies are based in different parts of the country – DTS in the North East and Eclipse in the Midlands – they both operate nationally and both have on-site warehousing facilities.”
He added, “DTS has a lot of potential, and for us it’s an exciting prospect. When we buy a business, we do so to increase its profitability through investments and different ways of working.
“The previous owners have built a strong business, and our job now is to take it forward and take it to the next level.”
Winch & Co were advised by Ison Harrison Solicitors in Leeds. DTS was advised by Lupton Fawcett.
Winch & Co’s portfolio also includes investments in steel and mining company Evraz plc, biotechnology company Aptamer Group plc and construction contractor TR1 Construction, among other businesses.
