The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 36: April/May 2018 | Page 16

Watersheds celebrate two
successful company sales
Watersheds, the Swindon corporate finance
specialist has recently led two successful sales.
ALCOLOCK ® GB SOLD TO ISOTRAK
Alcolock ® GB Limited, the UK’s leading
distributor of alcohol breathalyser
immobilisation systems, has been sold to
Isotrak Group Limited.
Alcolock ® GB Limited, based in Radstock,
Somerset was established in 2006 by
David Whittock. With a background in
motorsports, and against a backdrop of
increasing alcohol-related road accidents
in the UK, David saw a niche in the market
place which could help address this issue.
The acquisition means the private equity
backed Isotrak Group, market leaders in
fleet management and telematics solutions,
can diversify its portfolio; offering a highly
complementary product, and expand its
customer portfolio into the bus and coach
industry within the UK and internationally.
David Whittock, of Alcolock ® GB
Limited, said: “I believe the products and
services Alcolock ® GB has developed are
becoming more and more essential in
the automotive sector, particularly within
public transport due to legislation and a
better awareness amongst directors of
their duty of care in relation to their drivers.
“Watersheds identified Isotrak as a
strategic buyer which could take the
business to the next level, but more
importantly who shared my concerns about
road safety, and understood the importance
of these products and services.”
“I am very pleased to have worked with
Watersheds. They were able to take a lot
of leg work away allowing me to focus on
continuing to run the business successfully.
There were times when I found the process
overwhelming and Watersheds were able
to manage all parties efficiently and timely
which took the pressure off me.”
Wendy Lam, Partner at Watersheds,
said “Alcolock ® GB sold a very distinct
product range and required a buyer who
understood its true market potential in
order to see the real value in the business.
It was clear from the initial discussions with
the Isotrak Group, they did just that.”
“Through our candid approach, we were
able to negotiate a deal that met David’s
expectations and complete the whole
transaction within two months of signing
the heads of agreement. We are pleased
we were able to assist in an acquisition that
will be the start of an exciting new chapter
in road safety across the UK.”
“Finding a buyer and negotiating a deal is only half of the story.”
SOUTH WEST FORKLIFT DISTRIBUTOR SOLD TO STAFFORDSHIRE BUSINESS
Watersheds has led the sale of Lift West Limited, the South
West’s leading independent materials handling equipment
supplier, to Staffordshire-based Dunstall Holdings Limited.
Lift West was established in 1993 by Andrew
Whitehouse and supplies, services and maintains forklift
trucks and industrial doors to a blue-chip industrial
client base including some of the South West’s leading
businesses. The company which employs 80 staff, is a
TCM main dealer in the South West and South Wales and is
headquartered at Lopen Head in Somerset. Lift West prides
itself on providing personalised solutions for customers’
materials handling needs.
The purchase of Lift West represents the second major
acquisition completed by Dunstall Holdings following the
deal to acquire its agricultural business, Rea Valley Tractors,
in 2010.
Watersheds partner Jessica Painter said, “Finding a
buyer and negotiating a deal is only half of the story. For
shareholders that have not sold a business before, or that
have a small team of management to help them, the
process can be demanding and daunting. I was pleased to
be able to help Andrew complete the deal and allow him
to realise his investment in the business, built up over the
last 25 years.”
For more info:
www.watersheds.ltd.uk
16
01793 719788
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018