Impact goes Nissan

In what all parties have described as “a perfect fit”, Nissan Forklift dealer for the East Midlands and East Anglia, Apollo Plant, has been acquired in a multi-million pound deal by Impact Handling. The purchase marks a further investment in the UK by the Imperial Group, Impact's South-African based multi-national parent. In addition to Impact, its UK interests currently include automotive and specialist parts distribution and inventory management.

Impact Managing Director Terry Kendrew takes on the additional role of Managing Director of Apollo, with current directors Bob Haunch, Ian Merry and Melvyn Neale remaining for a period to ensure a smooth transition. “The acquisition is the ideal situation for Impact as a group,” explained Terry Kendrew. “Both Impact and Apollo have a very similar business model, with regional sales and localised service. As a group, the move gives Impact far greater scale, and we are delighted to have achieved the major benefit of the Nissan Forklift franchise”.

Apollo's centres in Boston, Market Harborough and Norwich will remain, while the Nottingham branch will be integrated into Impact's
headquarters at Long Eaton to become a Nissan Forklift dealership. Apollo's management and structure will also remain and, crucially, says Terry Kendrew, so will the Apollo name. “There is tremendous value in the Apollo name and its long association with the Nissan Forklift brand. “Existing and potential customers can expect to see improvements in the service operation through the greater number of people now
involved and through a highly developed management information
system with its associated benefits for the user. A larger combined sales team will also help us to create additional market share. “We are particularly excited by the new relationship with Nissan
Forklift. At a time when so many names and businesses in the
materials handling industry are consolidating, this move is a massive vote of confidence in us by both our parent company and by Nissan. It gives us tremendous scope for the future. Celebrating the deal, Nissan's UK director for industrial machinery, Brendon Sparks, said: “We are delighted to welcome Impact into the Nissan Forklift family. The Nissan brand provides a very strong product portfolio for Impact. We recognise that as part of their planned expansion they need to rely on a trading partner that can provide an equally strong supply chain.”

Impact has branches throughout the East Midlands and East Anglia. In addition to Nissan Forklift lift truck and warehouse products sold through Apollo and Impact, it will also continue to sell a range of complementary materials handling products.

The company's South African based parent, Imperial Group, specialises in the movement of people and products, with interests ranging from car and car hire dealerships, commercial vehicles, leasing of transport ranging from aircraft to barges, and new ventures in quarrying and mining. It operates in 32 countries with 40,000 employees and has assets of £3.8bn. Nissan Forklift

Tel 0800 919968. e-mail:
forklifts@nissan.co.uk www.nissanforklift.co.uk