Swedish corporation swoops for Widnes-based industrial business Denca Controls
Source: The Business Desk - Michael Taylor
A thirty-year old industrial business from Widnes that counts manufacturers like Kelloggs as customers has been sold to a division of Swedish industrial group Axel John International.
Denca Controls Ltd, a British Automation Controls from Widnes is the first acquisition of the Swedish group’s Industrial Automation division in the UK.
Denca serves industrial customers across a broad range of end-use segments, from process industries such as pharmaceuticals and food and beverage, to discrete manufacturing such as automotive and general industries.
“The acquisition of Denca Controls is an exciting step for Industrial Automation,” says Anton Kullh, Managing Director at Industrial Automation. “Denca has a strong reputation, deep technical competence and a customer-focused way of working that fits very well with our philosophy. Through this acquisition, we have strengthened our position in the UK market while adding valuable capabilities within automation controls. We look forward to supporting Denca’s continued growth journey together with the whole team.”
Denca Controls was founded by Alan Brennan and John Talbot in 1995 and is headquartered in Widnes, with annual turnover in excess of £10 million,employs more than 100 people and is led by a next generation management team, nurtured by the founders.
“Joining Axel Johnson International marks an exciting new chapter for Denca,” says Alan Brennan and John Talbot, founders of Denca. “We have built our business on close customer collaboration, technical expertise and flexibility. With Axel Johnson International as our owner, we gain a partner that will support us in the next phase of the company’s growth journey, while remaining true to our way of working and our commitment to delivering value to customers”.
Axel Johnson International is a privately owned Swedish industrial group operating globally, that typically grows by acquisitions and the development of industrial companies.
The group consists of 220+ companies and employs 6,700 people in 36 countries, organized into six business groups, each focusing on selected niche markets.
The selling shareholders were advised by Cole Associates Corporate Finance (Jeremy Cole), Mitchell Charlesworth (Rob Davies) and Excello Law (Robin Gill). Axel Johnson International were advised by Shakespeare Martineau (legal) and DSW (financial due diligence).