Birmingham-based national lifting equipment specialist Lloyds British Testing, has today [11/5/06] acquired the goodwill and assets of Rota Handling in Dudley from managing director Ian Payne, for an undisclosed sum.

Rota, a leading lifting and handling solutions provider to international steel, water, rail, aerospace and construction industries, is to be integrated into Lloyds British Testing and will be known as the Lloyds Rota division. Clients include British Airways, Severn Trent Water, BAE Systems and the Environmental Agency.

The business, which currently turns over £1 million per annum, will be moving its administrative base and key personnel from Chapel Street in Netherton to Lloyds British’s West Bromwich site. Ian Payne will become general manager of Lloyds Rota and the division’s engineering services will be available nationwide through Lloyds’ extensive national network of 10 service centres.

Said Lloyds British Testing’s chief executive Ian White: "This is our first acquisition since we returned to private company status in February of this year. Lloyds has always been an organisation with a strong acquisitive history, and this is set to continue. Our strategy is to boost customer service through a complementary mix of organic growth and skills acquisition in relevant markets.

"Bringing Rota Handling under the Lloyds umbrella is excellent news for our existing customers as well as Rota’s. The deal will allow us to reinforce our expertise in lifting and handling solutions and develop our products and services to benefit all those who do business with us.”

With Lloyds’ annual turnover now in excess of £17 million, the addition of Rota Handling boosts the number of employees to almost 300.

Added Ian White: "It is our intention to consider further niche acquisitions over the next twelve months. The Lloyds long term aim is to build an international lifting equipment engineering group of companies and we are exploring new avenues of business all the time."