(L-R) Doug Wyatt, Nissan Forklift's national technical and service manager; Terry Kendrew, Impact Handling's MD; Brendon Sparks, Nissan's UK director for industrial machinery; and Geoff Phillips, Nissan Forklift's national sales manager.

Impact Handling has bought Apollo Plant, the Nissan forklift dealer for the East Midlands and East Anglia, in a "multi-million deal".

The acquisition marks a further investment in the UK by Impact's South-African based multi-national parent, the Imperial Group. Its UK interests include automotive and specialist parts distribution and inventory management.

Impact managing director Terry Kendrew takes on the additional role of managing director of Apollo, replacing Bob Haunch. Haunch and the other directors, Ian Merry and Melvyn Neale, remain until mid-May to ensure a smooth transition.

Kendrew says the acquisition is ideal for Impact as a group.

"Both Impact and Apollo have a very similar business model, with regional sales and localised service. As a group, the move gives Impact far greater scale and we are delighted to have achieved the major benefit of the Nissan Forklift franchise."

Apollo's centres in Boston, Market Harborough and Norwich will remain, while the Nottingham branches will be integrated into Impact's headquarters at Long Eaton to become a Nissan forklift dealership.

The Apollo name and the company's management and structure will remain.

"There is tremendous value in the Apollo name and its long association with the Nissan Forklift brand," Kendrew says.

Customers can expect improved service through an increased work team and a highly-developed information management system. The enlarged sales team is anticipated to increase Impact Handling's market share.

"We are particularly excited by the new relationship with Nissan Forklift. At a time when so many names and businesses in the materials handling industry are consolidating, the move is a massive vote of confidence in us by our parent and by Nissan," Kendrew adds.

Impact Handling also represents Kalmar, Combilift, Lancer and Toyota forklifts. The Apollo business is expected to increase the company's annual turnover to around GBP50 million (USD98.7 million).

The Imperial Group has interests ranging from car and car hire dealerships, commercial vehicles, leasing of transport ranging from aircraft to barges, and new ventures in quarrying and mining. It operates in 32 countries with 40,000 employees and has GBP3.8 billion (USD7.5 billion) of assets.