BSS Group
Encyclopedia
The BSS Group plc is a British
specialist distributor of heating, ventilation, plumbing, tools, pipeline, industrial supplies and mechanical services equipment based in Leicester
. Formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
, the firm was acquired by Travis Perkins
in December 2010.
1899 as British Steam Specialties. It bought UBM Cadel (a leading plumbing distributor) in 1999, rebranded as PTS (Plumbing Trade Supplies). It went on to buy Pegler & Louden (a valve distributor) in 2003, A. Warren & Sons (an industrial products distributor) in 2005, Spendlove C. Jebb (a Northern Ireland
-based distributor), Price Tools in 2006, Buck & Hickman
(an industrial tools distributor) in 2007, Birchwood Products (a building products business) in 2008, and Direct Heating Spares, in 2009. The group's latest acquisition is UGS Ltd, a privately owned underground drainage merchants, purchased in February 2010. The BSS board accepted an indicative £553 million takeover offer from Travis Perkins
on 28 May 2010, an acquisition which was completed on 14 December 2010 as BSS Group shares were delisted from the London Stock Exchange.
and Dublin) and Warrens, is a market leader in the UK supply of distribution pipeline
, process
, heating and mechanical services equipment. Its customers range from large national contractors to local independents. BSS Industrial is further divided into six specialist brands: AMS Pumps; Austin Stroud (Stainless
& Carbon Steel); BSS Drainage; Havelock Controls (HVAC
); Manor Plastics; and Pegler & Louden (Industrial Valve
s).
The Domestic Division, made up of Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS) and F & P Wholesale, supplies a comprehensive range of bathroom
, heating and plumbing
products to a variety of customers, both public and private sector, from large national contractors to the sole trading plumber and heating engineer through its extensive branch network. Spendlove C Jebb is a part of PTS trading in Northern Ireland
.
The Specialist Division, comprising Buck & Hickman
and Birchwood Price Tools (formed from an amalgamation of Birchwood Products and Price Tools in April 2009), supplies a range of power tools, hand tools, maintenance
and health and safety products to three principal market sectors, the manufacturing industry, wholesale and trade customers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
specialist distributor of heating, ventilation, plumbing, tools, pipeline, industrial supplies and mechanical services equipment based in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. Formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
, the firm was acquired by Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins plc is a British builders merchant based in Northampton. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
in December 2010.
History
The company was founded in the East MidlandsEast Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
1899 as British Steam Specialties. It bought UBM Cadel (a leading plumbing distributor) in 1999, rebranded as PTS (Plumbing Trade Supplies). It went on to buy Pegler & Louden (a valve distributor) in 2003, A. Warren & Sons (an industrial products distributor) in 2005, Spendlove C. Jebb (a Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-based distributor), Price Tools in 2006, Buck & Hickman
Buck & Hickman
Buck & Hickman is the UK's leading distributor of tools, maintenance and health & safety products. Established and continuously trading for almost 180 years, they were the first major tools distributor to be established in the UK...
(an industrial tools distributor) in 2007, Birchwood Products (a building products business) in 2008, and Direct Heating Spares, in 2009. The group's latest acquisition is UGS Ltd, a privately owned underground drainage merchants, purchased in February 2010. The BSS board accepted an indicative £553 million takeover offer from Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins plc is a British builders merchant based in Northampton. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
on 28 May 2010, an acquisition which was completed on 14 December 2010 as BSS Group shares were delisted from the London Stock Exchange.
Operations
The Industrial Division, encompassing BSS Industrial, BSS Ireland, (CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and Dublin) and Warrens, is a market leader in the UK supply of distribution pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
, process
Industrial process
Industrial processes are procedures involving chemical or mechanical steps to aid in the manufacture of an item or items, usually carried out on a very large scale. Industrial processes are the key components of heavy industry....
, heating and mechanical services equipment. Its customers range from large national contractors to local independents. BSS Industrial is further divided into six specialist brands: AMS Pumps; Austin Stroud (Stainless
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
& Carbon Steel); BSS Drainage; Havelock Controls (HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
); Manor Plastics; and Pegler & Louden (Industrial Valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
s).
The Domestic Division, made up of Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS) and F & P Wholesale, supplies a comprehensive range of bathroom
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
, heating and plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
products to a variety of customers, both public and private sector, from large national contractors to the sole trading plumber and heating engineer through its extensive branch network. Spendlove C Jebb is a part of PTS trading in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The Specialist Division, comprising Buck & Hickman
Buck & Hickman
Buck & Hickman is the UK's leading distributor of tools, maintenance and health & safety products. Established and continuously trading for almost 180 years, they were the first major tools distributor to be established in the UK...
and Birchwood Price Tools (formed from an amalgamation of Birchwood Products and Price Tools in April 2009), supplies a range of power tools, hand tools, maintenance
Maintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
and health and safety products to three principal market sectors, the manufacturing industry, wholesale and trade customers.