Scots mixer maker bought by private equity outfit

● Mcphee Mixers founded in 1971 and employs 70 people ● Will become part of Elaghmore’s TVS Group unit

Private equity firm Elaghmore Partners has acquired Glasgow-based Mcphee Mixers, a designer and manufacturer of truck-mounted concrete mixer units, for a “multi-million pound” sum.

Founded in 1971, Mcphee designs, manufactures and supplies its mixers from its headquarters in Blantyre. It has become one of the top UK suppliers of mixers to the construction and quarrying industry.

As well as designing and manufacturingthemixers,the company services and repairs them from a specialist site in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Elaghmore said it will provide financial backing to support the growth plans of the business which include expanding the existing sites to help deliver a growing order book, new product development, the addition of sales and marketing capability and geographic expansion to capitalise on the company’s intellectual property.

Mcphee, which employs some 70 people, will continue to operate autonomously but will become part of Elaghmore’s Total Vehicle Solutions (TVS) Group. The group includes other Elaghmore acquisitions, SB Components and Priden Engineering.

By being part of TVS, the companies can cross-sell products to the combined customer base, share facilities across the UK to broaden their reach as well as share “best practice and technical expertise”. The group also has plans to expand internationally.

TVS Group under the ownership of Elaghmore has annualised revenues of about £50 million and operates across four sites in the UK.

Brinsley Mcfarlane, managing director, Mcphee Mixers, said: “Mcphee Mixers has a long and enviable record of success within the engineering industry and we have ambitious plans for the future.

“Working with Elaghmore will help us deliver these, which is demonstrated by their track record in backing companies like SB Components.

“It is an exciting day for our skilled and dedicated workforce as well as our customers as we look to build on our success so far as part of the TVS Group.”

Andy Ducker, founding partner at Elaghmore, added: “Mcphee Mixers is a strong, profitable company with a growing order book, a track recordofinnovationandlongterm relationships with some of the biggest names in the UK construction industry.

“It is a valuable addition to our Total Vehicle Solutions Group.” Development company S Harrison has appointed Edinburgh-based Sharkey as the main contractor to transform a building in the centre of Edinburgh into the latest boutique hotel for Malmaison Hotel du Vin Group. Buchan House, highlighted above, is located on St Andrew Square in the heart of the capital’s New Town. The work will transform it into a recently announced 72-bedroom Malmaison hotel complete with Chez Mal Bar and Brasserie – due to open in 2019.