The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Management buyout secures future of Perthshire forestry business
RTS Ltd founder becomes chairman in firm’s new structure
The future of Scotland’s largest independent forestry firm has been secured through a management buyout.
Crieff-based RTS Ltd will now be led by new managing director Norman O’Neill and directors Harry Wilson and Ross Kennedy after they secured a deal with husband and wife founders Alan and Heather Robbins to take on the business.
While taking a step back from his managing director role, Mr Robbins is not leaving the group altogether and is instead transitioning to become RTS’s new chairman.
The management buyout was supported by RBS.
“We are delighted to have acquired RTS from Alan and Heather Robbins, and recognise their unstinting work in growing RTS Ltd to where it is today,” Mr O’Neill said.
“We are particularly pleased that Alan has agreed to remain as chairman for a number of years to continue his contribution to our ongoing growth.”
The company was founded in 1984 and has gone on to become a major player in Scotland’s forestry management sector.
It offers harvesting, consultancy and estate management services and its RTS (Woodfuel) business is heavily involved in the biomass sector, producing more than 40,000 tonnes of woodfuel a year.
Annual sales for the group now exceed £12 million. The company has more than 40 staff. “This is an extremely exciting time for the business and we’re delighted to have secured the future of RTS in the long term with this MBO,” new chairman Alan Robbins said.
“Having worked side by side with Norman, Ross and Harry for many years we have the utmost confidence in their continued ability to deliver to our clients and grow the business.”
This is an extremely exciting time for the business. ALAN ROBBINS, CHAIRMAN, RTS LTD