Connaught buys Gasforce

Connaught, the property services provider, has paid £22m for Gasforce, the UK's largest gas appliance maintenance specialist.

Gasforce was founded in 1996 through an employee buy-out of the industrial and commercial service and maintenance division of British Gas. Financial figures (to 31 May 2002) show a pre-tax profit of £1.6m on an £18m turnover.

Gasforce has four operating divisions: service and maintenance; design and installation; air conditioning and cooling; and energy-saving products.

The energy-saving division is trialling a "zero cost contract" whereby energy savings can be offset against service costs.