Frank Key Group Limited are delighted to announce the acquisition of the C Bancroft Group, with its two trading subsidiaries Banson Tool Hire Limited and Charles Watson (Ironmongers) Limited.
Banson Tool Hire is a 10 branch hire business with its head office in Halifax, West Yorkshire. As well as Halifax, the branches are located in Batley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Wakefield. The business has traded since the 1960’s and became available due to the retirement of the brothers who owned and managed this family business. To Integrate these branches with the current Frank Key hire operations, Richard Meeks has been promoted to the role of Group Hire Director.
Charles Watson Ironmongers has the same head office in Halifax and a smaller branch in Leeds. It has also been trading since the 1960’s and has a number of complimentary product lines to our existing merchant businesses. In addition to the branches, the business has strong online trading and we are looking to expand on this, over a wider product range.
James Norton, Group Managing Director of Frank Key said “With the acquisitions, we welcome a further 60 members of staff to the Frank Key team and greatly expands our number of trade outlets, moving further north into West Yorkshire and Lancashire. The purchase expands our hire operation to 14 branches across five counties, with the added benefit of adding specialist ironmongery depots to our builders merchant branch network”
Martin Bancroft, shareholder and director of C Bancroft Ltd said “As a family owned and managed business for over 75 years, the former shareholders and directors are pleased that the business including subsidiary companies Banson Tool Hire Ltd and Charles Watson (Ironmongers) Ltd have been acquired by the Frank Key Group Ltd – itself a family business for more than 100 years. We are confident that the acquisition will significantly strengthen the plant & tool hire and specialist ironmongery sales of the Frank Key Group and that the ongoing expansion plans provide continuing confidence and stability for customers, suppliers and employees into the future.”
Banson Tool Hire is a leading independent in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with a large range of tools for hire across 10 branches. Alongside the branch network, a National Hire Direct service is provided to account customers to source equipment when working in other areas or for specialist or large equipment not stocked in branch.
In the short term, Banson Tool Hire will operate independently of the Frank Key Hire and Sinbad branches. However, if you have an account with the group, a Banson account will be opened for your immediately to enable you to use these branches when working in their areas.
To visit the Banson website please click here
To visit the Charles Watson website please click here