Aero Services Global Group, based in Manchester, has bought King & Fowler in Liverpool, safeguarding 59 jobs and pledges to add to more people to the operation. Tony McDonough reports
A North West engineering group has acquired a Liverpool business in a deal that will safeguard all 59 jobs and see new jobs and investment into the operation.
Aero Services Global Group (ASG), based in Manchester, has bought King & Fowler for an undisclosed sum. King & Fowler is an industrial surface treatment specialist based just north of Liverpool city centre.
ASG, run by by Simon Weston and backed by Amin Amiri of a2e Industries, turns over more than £43m a year and offers a full engineering portfolio. It specialises in the aerospace sector with clients around the world.
It offers services from tooling and machining to assembly and now, with the acquisition of King & Fowler, is can add finishing to its offer. It says it will now invest in processes and plant at the Liverpool factory. The deals means it is now able to access anodising, plating, heat treatment and non-destructive testing.
Mr Weston said: “We see this acquisition as a strategic fit, adding more capability to our portfolio. This acquisition strengthens our commitment to our customers, providing end-to-end capabilities for commercial and military aerospace contracts.
“Its reputation in the aerospace sector is well respected, with Nadcap accreditation and more than 15 customers approvals already in place. More importantly, it has unrivalled expertise in the surface treatment of critical components. With renewed investment, we believe we have the opportunity to grow sales by 30% over the next 12 months.”
Mr Weston added the plan was to create new jobs in the Liverpool operation with the opportunity to complete work for other domestic and international member companies in ASG.
Mark Huddleston, who remains as director of King & Fowler, added: We have joined a well-managed, growing and ideally positioned group, with a clear vision of providing world class services to customers and deploying a ‘partner of choice’ ethos.
“While we have been approached on a number of occasions by potential buyers, the investment record and market growth of ASG made this the right next step and we look forward to upgrading our facilities whilst supporting the group in their strategic objectives.”
ASG manufactures and sub-assembles detail airframe structural equipment and aero engine components for more than 20 leading OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Founded in 2015, it started operations with the acquisition of Phoenix.
It now boasts eight subsidiary companies, including Queens Award-winning Arrowsmith Engineering, B&H Precision Tooling, Datum, Ludolph, TGM and AMF Precision Engineering. It employs more than 350 people.