Jones finds buyer
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• West Midlands ERF distributor S Jones Truck Centre has been acquired by a sister company of Transco. The Leasing Group. which like Transco is owned by BG, bought the Aldridge operation from receiver KPMG for an undisclosed sum.
S Jones Industrial Holdings, which also included a major transport fleet, went into administrative receivership in March. KPMG was appointed by Lloyds Bank.
The distributorship will now trade under the Aquila Truck Centres banner, says general manager Steve Bristow, who was with S Jones before its collapse. The new owners have no other truck dealerships, but run a large service and repair workshop in Reading. So why acquire an ERF outlet? One key reason is BG's interest in promoting the use of gas-powered trucks, says Bristow; and ERF has done a considerable amount of work in this area.
"And let's not forget that it's a very attractive facility, and one that has commanded loyalty from the manufacturer, customers, and staff during the recent difficulties," he says.
It continued to trade during the receivership. "I was asked to work with the receivers to keep the truck centre going," Bristow says.
He stresses that Aquila will not be automatically awarded business by Transco. "We'll have to tender for it like anybody else," he says.
In addition to Aldridge, Aquila operates a site at Alcester near Redditch. There are independent ERF service and repair points in its territory at Coventry, Dudley, Telford, and Welshpool.