Linde Material Handling GmbH has acquired its successful UK dealer Linde Sterling as "a number of directors" are retiring from the business.

Linde Material Handling communications head Detlef Sieverdingbeck tells Forkliftaction.com News the change is "a financial change of ownership and will not affect staff or customers".

The acquisition value is confidential.

Headquartered at Warrington, with customer support centres at Buckley, Liverpool and Bolton, the dealer has served customers in North Wales and the North West of the United Kingdom for over 30 years. It claims to be the leading North West provider in the materials handling market for new and used forklift sales, rentals and aftersales support.

"In 2010, Sterling supplied more than one of every three trucks supplied to its territory," Sieverdingbeck says.

Although Linde Material Handling now owns 100% of the dealership's shares, existing managing director David Jones will stay on in his current role.

"The change of shareholding and the retention of David Jones as managing director reinforces Sterling's position as the leading materials handling provider in the North West and Linde Material Handling UK's position as the UK market leader," Sieverdingbeck says.

He explains that the acquisition is important to ensure continuity in the business and for Linde customers.

Asked whether current staff will be impacted by the change, Sieverdingbeck is quick to point out that the key strengths of Linde Sterling include its people and its locations. "They are key to its future success and no major changes are planned to the way they operate."

A Linde Sterling employee tells Forkliftaction.com News that he and his colleagues did not see the change in company ownership coming. "[We] have been told there will be no changes made [to staff numbers] at present."

There are about 300 people working at Linde Sterling.