Searchlight buys Fork Rent, One Call

News Story
- 3 Sep 2015 ( #734 ) - London, United Kingdom
1 min read
Fork Rent is a leading provider of tele-handlers
Fork Rent is a leading provider of tele-handlers
Searchlight Capital Partners and Duke Street have acquired controlling interests in Fork Rent Limited and One Call Hire Limited.

The two family-owned businesses will combine to create one of the UK's largest providers of rental equipment to the construction industry.

Fork Rent and One Call have complementary sector exposures and product ranges, according to the new owners. While Fork Rent has a greater involvement in the residential market, One Call has a larger footprint in the infrastructure and commercial segments. The newly combined business will create one of the UK's leading fleets of excavators and telescopic handlers.

Commenting on the deal, Oliver Haarmann, a founding partner of Searchlight, says: "We have been deeply impressed by the leading market positions achieved by Fork Rent and One Call under the leadership of their founders. Together, the companies can leverage their increased scale and strong reputation for providing best-in-class customer service to create a leading equipment rental company in the UK across multiple end-markets and equipment types."

Fork Rent and One Call will together possess a network of equipment depots that spans the United Kingdom.

Based in Ipswich, Fork Rent is a leading provider of telescopic handlers to the housing construction market. Based in Enfield, One Call, a best-in-class service provider to the commercial and infrastructure construction markets, is a specialist in excavators, dumpers and rollers.

Fork Rent was founded in 1972 as Guy's Hire, building on a truck rental business operated by Percy Nicholls which developed into Trucks R Us and Tippers R Us. Fork Rent managing director Elaine Miller is expected to stay with the business.

Middlesex-based One Call boasts over 3,000 machines available for hire. These include excavators, heavy-lift telehandlers, access platforms and dumpers with an average age of just 12 months.

Details of the integration plans for the two businesses have not been revealed.
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Previously about:
Fork Rent expands with telehandlers News Story - 2 Feb 2012 - Ipswich, United Kingdom - 1 min read
JCB DEALER NETS GBP2.5 MILLION ORDER News Story - 23 Oct 2003 - FARNHAM, United Kingdom - 1 min read
JCB SCORES FORK RENT LOADALL DEAL News Story - 31 Jul 2003 - IPSWICH, United Kingdom - 1 min read
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Since July 2000, Forkliftaction News has been your guide to the developments that are shaping your industry.

Starting today we are also looking back on some of the key news stories from our extensive news archive.

In the news email and on the website, you'll see links to stories that were 'leading our news' multiple years ago, with topics spanning world-first products, big acquisitions, and major industry shifts.
We hope you enjoy this unique insight into the materials handling industry!

Inside The News
This week Forkliftaction News is celebrating its 25th anniversary! A wonderful achievement given we launched at a time when just 6% of the world’s population were internet users, according to Internet World Stats . Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing stories about our history and rolling out more celebrations, so keep an eye out... Continue reading

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Since July 2000, Forkliftaction News has been your guide to the developments that are shaping your industry.

Starting today we are also looking back on some of the key news stories from our extensive news archive.

In the news email and on the website, you'll see links to stories that were 'leading our news' multiple years ago, with topics spanning world-first products, big acquisitions, and major industry shifts.
We hope you enjoy this unique insight into the materials handling industry!