Marine supplier geared for growth under new ownership
A Tyneside marine supplies business is poised for expansion after being acquired by a global leader in the industry, which has established its first UK base in the process.
Marine Safety Supplies Limited is now under the ownership of PTR Holland Group, which supplies marine safety equipment around the globe and is the world’s largest manufacturer of marine-use rope ladders. It has divisions in the Netherlands and Singapore and major warehousing facilities in destinations including China, Brazil and the United States.
PTR Holland said it intends to expand its new Wallsend-based acquisition, and pledged to retain its new North East operation as an independent business and to keep all of its work on Tyneside.
The deal was overseen by the commercial team at Newcastle law firm Sintons.
Marine Safety Supplies, which employs nine people at its base on Wallsend riverside, was founded ten years ago by Alan Ellis and John Ornsby. Mr Ornsby is now stepping back from the business, with Mr Ellis continuing to work with the new owners.
Both PTR Holland Group and Marine Safety Supplies make and supply marine safety equipment such as nets and ladders, and have done business together in the past while supplying to the same projects.
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Joris J. Stuip, managing director of PTR Holland Group, said: “We do the same kind of work that Marine Safety Supplies do, but on a much bigger scale, so we will be able to use our international network to help develop the site. We both work in the same sector, and have done business together in the past, so this is a very good fit for our existing operation.
“We definitely have expansion in mind for our new site – we certainly do not plan to move work elsewhere, and are committed to developing what there is in North East England. We will spend the first three to six months settling in, as we do not want too much change all at once for the employees, but after that time, we will look very seriously at expanding.
“There is a lot of potential for this site, and we are very pleased to be able to become its new owner.”
Matt Collen, Partner in the Company and Commercial department at Sintons, and solicitor Emma Pern, led the team which oversaw the transaction. The vendors were represented by Bittermann & Wood, based in North Shields.
Matt Collen said: “PTR Holland Group is a global leader in its field and it is very pleasing to be able to bring that level of expertise to the North East, as well as helping them to make their first UK acquisition.
“Joris and his team are committed to developing their presence in the North East and capitalising on the potential of their new site, and we wish them every success for the future in achieving that.”
