AER Rents Acquires Chippindale Plant

AER Rents, an O’Flaherty Holdings group company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Chippindale Plant Ltd, the leading independent provider of construction equipment for hire and sale in the North of England.

Chippindale Plant was founded as a one-man operation by Wilfred Chippindale in 1949. Since joining the company in the 1980s, Nigel and Peter Chippindale have grown the company to one of the largest privately owned hire & sales companies in the UK.

Chippindale Plant provides the complete hire & sales service for plant, tools, attachments and site accommodation throughout the entire North of England and beyond. Operating from its head office in Leeds it has 8 strategically placed depots in Leeds, Catterick, Huddersfield, Keighley, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and York, employing 120 staff. Nigel & Peter will continue in their current leadership roles as joint-MD’s.

This latest exciting acquisition significantly strengthens AER Rents UK presence, allowing the group to offer a widened range of products and services to its customers, including the option to purchase new equipment through Chippindales dealership agreements with Volvo, Bomag, Mecalac, Epiroc, Atlas Copco, Stihl & Belle Group.

O’Flaherty Holdings is an organisation well known in Ireland, primarily through its role in the development of the Irish motor industry. Founded in the 1940s by legendary motor industry entrepreneur, the late Stephen O’Flaherty, the group continues to be owned and managed by members of the O’Flaherty family. Its subsidiaries include Motor Distributors Limited, distributors in Ireland of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles and MSL – a network of independent motor dealerships providing sales and after-sales service for Mercedes-Benz, Mazda & Skoda.

AER Rents will continue to expand its presence in the plant hire market through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, offering its customers access to a wider offering of modern products and services. The group was advised by KPMG Corporate Finance & Legal Services, Dublin, with legal support from Shoosmiths in Manchester. Chippindale were supported by Sentio Partners, with legal services from Gordons LLP, both located in Leeds.

In a separate comment, Nigel & Peter Chippindale said “We are delighted to be joining AER Rents fold. It’s a perfect fit not only for Chippindale Plant and its employees, but also for our customers. AER Rents are a forward-thinking organisation with an eye on expansion. The acquisition will allow us access to significant further investment to enhance and expand the range of equipment we offer. We’re really looking forward to working with the AER Rents team and their existing plant hire companies."