HSS expands power division with Apex buy

HSS Hire has acquired Scottish power rental company Apex Generators from owners Nevis Capital for an undisclosed price.

Nevis Capital is the private equity firm whose partners include brothers John and James Pirrie who sold their LCH Generators business to Speedy Hire for £62 million in 2006.

HSS will retain the Apex brand and use the business to strengthen its existing power division, which includes Abird, giving it a greater ability to fulfil national rental contracts. Apex has seven branches in Scotland and rents gensets in the 10 to 1250 kVA range.

Robert Gibson, manager at Apex - and previously of LCH – said; “This is the start of an exciting new chapter for our business. With the support of the HSS Hire Group, we will be able to make further investment in our fleet, grow our network and deliver our excellent service levels to customers on a more national basis, whilst still retaining the specialist nature of our brand.”

HSS chief executive officer Chris Davies said the acquisition was “another solid step” in its growth strategy; “It supports our existing power solutions capabilities, bolstering our specialist Abird power business and further enhancing our position as a trusted partner and service leader in the tools and equipment rental, outsourcing and services sector.”

Brian Aitken, one of the partners at Nevis Capital, said “Apex has grown to be a successful generator hire business in Scotland across the construction, housebuilding, events, industrial and marine sectors. We have no doubt that the business is better together as part of a national operation such as HSS where it can continue to grow and develop”.

The Apex acquisition is the latest of several by HSS in recent years, including cleaning specialist TecServ, the Irish division of Mobile Traffic Solutions (MTS), aerial platform company UK Platforms and Abird Generator Hire.

Nevis Capital created Apex Generators in 2009 and expanded it in the same year by acquiring Woodside Power. Other Nevis-owned businesses include Dieselec Thistle, an FG Wilson dealer that sells, installs and maintains back-up diesel generators, and Micro Spring & Presswork (MSP), a manufacturer of springs, presswork and assemblies for industries including aerospace, oil and gas and nuclear power.