Sheriff buys Ballards

Sheriff Holdings, the Nottingham-based hirer has swooped on Ballards Plant, the Finchley, London-based hirer and its five depots. The price paid was œ1.9 million. The depots will operate as Sheriff-Ballards.

Ballards has been in operation for 30 years under founder/md Brian Smith and has an excellent reputation for service. Turnover in the year to March 1996 was around œ3 million.

Following the acquisition, Sheriff now boasts 47 hire centres. It will be able to import its successful powered access and tool hire operations into former Ballards branches at Northampton, St Albans, Barking, Staines and Warwick. The move expands Sheriff's coverage further into the south east.