Winch & Co injects £250,000 into newly acquired business

Private equity firm Winch & Co has invested almost £250,000 into Dedicated Transport Solutions (DTS).

The move comes only five weeks after it purchased the North East-based haulier and has already seen the arrival of two new trucks and a full office upgrade.

DTS is reportedly looking to buy five transport businesses, beginning last October with the purchase of Northampton-based Eclipse Distribution Solutions.

It has also appointed logistics expert Debra Hart – who has worked alongside a number of transport industry heavyweights including former Dragon Den’s investor, Hilary Devey - as commercial director.

The two new trucks are MAN TGX 510s, and their arrival this week takes the company’s fleet complement to eight.

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Winch & Co founder and managing partner Nathan Winch, said: “Unlike some private equity investors we don’t acquire with a view to asset strip, we acquire with an intent to invest and grow the business.

“And that’s exactly what we have done within the first five weeks of owning DTS. We recognised the potential of this business, hence us not only purchasing these two new MAN TGX trucks, but also upgrading the office accommodation for the staff.

“This ‘early doors’ investment is in the region of £250,000 and demonstrates our belief in DTS and its team.

“The addition of these two vehicles to the fleet will enable us to compete for new contracts which were previously out of our reach.”

Based in the centre of Leeds, Winch & Co has 100 full-time employees and invests in UK companies operating in FMCG, industrial and service-based industries, as well as deploying dynamic growth capital.

The vehicles were purchased from MAN Truck & Bus Gateshead.