TVH UK Ltd, based in Birmingham, a subsidiary of TVH in Belgium, has acquired Buccaneer's Forklift Truck and Tractor Parts, the Climax Forklift Truck trademark and rights to the Buccaneer Spare Parts name.

"The agreement is quite interesting for us because Buccaneer specialised in the English and Commonwealth markets with brands such as Boss, Bonser, Henley and Climax ... A lot of older Climax machines are still found in Africa. Now we can service them under the trademark," said spokesman Bernard De Meester.

Buccaneer was reported to have a turnover of about EUR2.5 million last year. TVH UK will move its operation and 12 staff from Birmingham to Buccaneer's Solihull premises. The deal doubles TVH's operation in the UK, and strengthens its worldwide business, which now has around 30 brands in its portfolio.

TVH planned to "strengthen our global, one-stop-shop concept", Mr De Meester said.