000698 - Exec News 3 25/9/08 16:27 Page 1
EXECUTIVE
NEWS continued
ALTRAD IN TALKS
TO BUY BELLE
Probably the most interesting news story in the last month is the equipment, mini dumpers, power packs and breakers. According to its
announcement that French-based Altrad Group is in discussions to accounts to December 2007, Belle’s turnover was £52.3m. In the last
acquire Belle Group. If all goes well, the deal will be completed 18 months, Belle has significantly grown its export sales to now
before the end of March next year and the respective management account for 60% of turnover and won a Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
teams are expected to remain in place. in International Trade earlier this year. If the deal is completed, Belle will
Whilst Altrad is far from a household name in the UK hire industry, join another UK mixer brand, that of Baromix, in the Altrad Group,
it boasts an impressive growth record in Europe since its formation in which acquired the Alcester-based manufacturer in 2002.
1984. According to its accounts for the year to August 2007, Belle Chairman and majority shareholder, Ron Blackhurst, considers
Altrad achieved a turnover of €419m (c.£335m), an increase of nearly the proposed Altrad deal to be “an exciting opportunity as it will ensure
40% over 2006. Its international turnover (i.e. outside France) now the product development that has been achieved over recent years can
stands at 59% of the 2007 figure. be continued.” The obvious synergies are that Altrad is strong in retail
Altrad manufactures and sells scaffolding, wheelbarrows and mixers, markets in Europe and Belle is a leading brand amongst European hire
which, of course, is the product that Belle is best known for. Describing companies and re-sellers. Belle has also developed markets in the
itself as No. 1 UK manufacturer of light construction equipment, Belle is Middle East and USA, which will give Altrad opportunities to develop in
also popular with hirers for its compaction and concrete finishing these areas.
EXECUTIVE
Dear Sir
POST I always enjoy reading Crosshire, possibly because my concerns often
coincide with his. This month I was particularly interested in his article on
plant theft, and the means he gave us to carry out surreptitious checks on
‘visitors’. However, on testing the system, I find that the web site
Dear Sir
recommended has a warning that it is only to be used by us to check on
I read with interest the recent Crosshire article and was
or OWN vehicles, not those belonging to anyone else. Or does our wish to
interested in the inclusion of a web site that could be used to
see crooks dealt with appropriately constitute a ‘reasonable cause’?
check if vehicles are currently insured and what type of vehicle
John Blake, Managing Director, Thurston Building Supplies Ltd
it should be.
I have been advised by our legal team that it is a breach of the
site conditions to use it for business. With your magazine being
Dear Sir
sent to a large proportion of our own Jewson Tool Hire outlets, Having read your Crosshire column in September, you mention that all
we are a little concerned that they make use of this web site vehicle registrations can be checked by using www.askmid.com.
without the appropriate authorisation to do so.
When you actually go on to the site, it basically says that you must be
Would it be possible to clarify with Crosshire that they do the owner or an employee of the owners to use the service. It goes on to
indeed have the necessary permissions to use this web site or, say that you could be in breach of the Data Protection Act if you use it
if not, could a correction possibly be inserted in to one of your for other purposes.
future issues.
What is your understanding of the situation in checking Third Party
Andrew Jones, Senior Auditor, Saint-Gobain Building Vehicles?
Distribution
Colin Wright, Master Key Finance Services Ltd
This topic has generated much debate in the last month and Crosshire is on the case again, discussing our
interpretation of the right to use the askmid site for the purpose of crime prevention. See page 48.
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