In line with its on-going strategy to acquire companies and build upon the existing brand strengths within the Group, EXMET are delighted to announce its latest acquisition. The Group has acquired, from the Administrator, some trade and assets of Cheshire based wall tie company Powerplace Ltd.

Powerplace Ltd was established in 1976 and is a small/medium sized business that has grown over the years to become a major supplier of wall ties and galvanised /stainless steel fixings to the UK’s Builders’ Merchants.

This new range of wall ties is a perfect addition to the products already sold within the group”, says managing director, Nigel Dickinson, “and will provide EXMET customers with a more comprehensive range of products to choose from in addition to our Plasterers accessories, Builders Metalwork and garden landscaping products. It also forms the next stage in our plans to become the industry leader and ‘supplier of choice’ to all the major builders’ merchants and DIY retail outlets in the UK. "Acquiring and building strong brands, is what we are about”, continues Dickinson “and with this in mind it is our intention to re-launch the wall tie range as ‘Expamet power-tie’.”

The new owners, Chairman John Cowley, Managing Director Nigel Dickinson and Trading Director Roger Hall set out a long term programme of monitoring and tracking businesses which have a potential to fit neatly into the EXMET portfolio of companies. Powerplace is the third such company to meet this requirement and the next few weeks will see its manufacturing and operations activities incorporated into the Hartlepool site alongside the Groups other two brands; Expamet Building Products and Metpost, both of which were acquired in June 2007.

The success of this transaction and its implementation over the coming months will reinforce EXMET’s confidence to pursue further acquisitions when suitable opportunities arise.