OCS acquires business and assets of Silverdell trading divisions, saves over 500 UK jobs
OCS, the UK-based total facilities management provider with global revenues of £840m, has acquired certain business and assets of Euro Dismantling Services, EDS Plant Solutions and EDS Group Holdings (subsidiaries of Silverdell plc) from Joint Administrators at BDO. The acquired business units comprise the Decontamination, Access & Insulation and Nuclear trading divisions operated by EDS.
The move by OCS will save over 500 UK jobs in Silverdell, which specialises in providing decontamination and environmental services such as asbestos removal and other decontamination work in high hazard areas and nuclear sites.
According to regulatory news filings with London Stock Exchange, Silverdell encountered financial problems when a subsidiary went into administration in summer 2013.
OCS was made aware of the opportunity on 23 December and worked over Christmas to undertake due diligence and close the deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“The specialist services provided by the acquired business units will complement our core facilities management offering” said Martin Gammon, chief executive officer for OCS Group UK and Europe. “This acquisition once again demonstrates our unique ability to move swiftly to secure deals in distressed circumstances.”
Silverdell is a well-regarded provider in the demanding, regulated environmental services sector and the acquired business brings a combination of highly skilled people, specialist equipment and strong client relationships, including a number of public sector and blue chip organisations.
“OCS and Silverdell are already serving the same market sectors and, in some cases, the same clients. This acquisition means we will be able to offer both sets of clients a broader set of associated services to help manage their assets and environments from a single point of contact” said Martin Gammon.
Shares in Silverdell Plc. were suspended from AIM on 2 July 2013 and cancelled on 2 January 2014. When the shares were suspended in July, Silverdell Plc was valued at over £40M.
The Decommissioning business operated within the Silverdell Group has not been sold to OCS.