Mellor Coachcraft’s Group attracts investors

Mellor Coachcraft’s parent company, Woodall Nicholson Group, has been acquired by new investors. Mosaic Private equity, RooGreen Ventures LLP and Enterprise Ventures have each invested in the business. The company has a turnover of £24m and employs 180 people at factories in Westhoughton and Rochdale. As well as Mellor Coachcraft, the Group comprises of Coleman Milne and Mellor Vancraft. Its history dates back to the 1820s when its major activity was building horse drawn hansom cabs and carriages.

The deal sees former Plaxton Chairman, Brian Davidson of RooGreen Ventures LLP, become involved with the transport industry again. Along with fellow principals and investors, Paul Newton, Mike Rogan, Jonathan Diggines and Warwick Ley, he played a part in the successful acquisition of Scarborough based Plaxton Coachbuilders in 2004. Brian has become Chairman of the Woodall Nicholson Group. As part of the transaction, Geoff Hudson, who has been with the business for over 30 years and is currently Group Sales Director, becomes MD, while his two colleagues and co-shareholders will retire from the business.

Brian Davidson said, ‘This is a bit of a departure from my normal transactions in that we have invested in a business which is already performing extremely well and has been well managed. I am hopeful that we can make the business even better and use it as a launch pad to grow a larger scale automotive business.’

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