A customer of a West Midland industrial partitioning systems specialist liked the business so much he has ended up buying it.
David Graham joined forces with structural design engineer Ian Mason to take over Action Industries, a Redditch- based company trading as WRG Partitioning Systems.
Located on the Washford Industrial Estate, the business operates within a niche market sector, manufacturing modular industrial partitioning.
Applications include offices, storage areas, factory dividing, machine and packing guards, security and protection barriers and pallet shelving. Ross Cocker of Birmingham accountants Clement Keys, who advised on the deal, said: "Having run the business since they first set it up in 1996, the three owners were looking for a cost-effective and practical exit strategy which would enable them to retire.
Their aim was to leave the business in good shape, so that a new team could take charge of the next stage of its development, and this would, in turn, safeguard the jobs of the 18-strong workforce."
Clement Keys advised on the acquisition of the company, developed the business plan, approached the sellers with a price structure for the acquisition, helped raise the finance, completed the structure and tax clearances and instructed solicitors for the purchasers.
The firm has now been appointed auditors to WRG, which thanks to a commitment to R&D has several new products in the pipeline.
"Everyone is delighted that the deal has gone through so smoothly, not least the sellers, who approached David Graham because they know him well and believe he has the experience and drive to build on their achievements and make sure WRG Partitioning Systems remains a manufacturing success story," said Mr Cocker.
