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Local private companies make the Top Track 100


Companies based in Reading and Oxford dominated the latest Thames Valley regional section of the Sunday Times Top Track 100 league table, which ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the biggest sales.


The only company in the region to make the national top 20 was TI Automotive, the Oxford and US-based group which makes fuel tanks, brake lines and other fluid- carrying systems for cars and vans.


Founded in 2001, TI was placed 20th this year and has featured in the top 30 since the chart was started 12 years ago. Its shares are currently spread over more than 20 investors, including Oaktree and Pointstate Capital. American rival Cooper Standard Holdings is reportedly preparing a bid for the company, which is led by chairman Bill Kozyra.


With a staff of 20,000 worldwide working at 122 bases in 29 countries, the group made a £274 million profit last year from sales of £2.1 billion.


TI just pipped Thames Water, the Reading-based group, by one place in the national table. Founded in 1989, the company is owned by a consortium led by Macquarie European Infrastructure Funds and has featured in the top 35 of the Top Track table for the past eight years.


With a staff of nearly 4,700 it is Britain’s biggest water and waste-water business. Led by chief executive Martin Baggs, it is currently seeking investors to fund the construction of a London super-sewer. With over 15 million customers in London and the Thames Valley, it recorded profits of over £1.1b from sales of £1.95b In the year to March.


SSP, the Weybridge-based group which provides food and drink at airports, railway stations and motorway service areas in 30 countries, came in at 24th this year – a rise of two places on 2013. The group has plans to seek a stock market listing and last year hired Kate Swann from WH Smith as chief executive.


The company has a staff of over 29,000 and last year recorded profits of £153m from sales of over £1.8b.


Another regular name in the table is Reading-based Westcoast, which came in at 39th this year – the tenth consecutive year in the top 100 and the third time it has made the top 50. Founder Joe Hemani, now 67, retains 100% ownership of the company which distributes IT equipment from companies such as Microsoft and Apple. In January it bought the educational technology supplier Viglen from Lord Sugar’s Amshold Group for an undisclosed sum.


Westcoast made £12m profit last year from sales of £1.2b. Founded in1984 it now has over 800 staff.


Another name to feature annually in the Top Track 100 – and has twice also been named in the sister Profit Track chart – is Oxford- based Unipart Group, which is 52% owned by management and staff. Other main shareholders are 3i and Electra (27%), and UGC Pension schemes and others (21%).


Unipart, 56th this year, provides manufacturing, logistics and consultancy services, with customers ranging from Vodafone to Homebase. Chairman and chief executive John Neill has led the group since it was formed in 1987. With a staff of nearly 7,000, profits last year totalled £24m from sales of £924m.


A revival in North Sea oil, alongside global expansion, is helping to drive growth at the oilfield services provider Expro International, which was 63rd in the national table. The Reading-based group is owned by Goldman Sachs (34%), Arle Capital Partners (32%), Alpinvest (12%), others (22%)


The company was founded in 1973 and now has over 5,300 staff. It was taken private in 2008 by a consortium led by Arle Capital and Goldman Sachs, and is run by chief executive Charles Woodburn. In the year to March it chalked up profits of £243m from sales of £875m.


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Biffa, the High Wycombe- based company which last year celebrated its centenary, made 74th place. Main shareholders are Angelo Gordon, Avenue Capital Group and Sankaty Advisors.


Richard Biffa started this company by collecting ash from London power stations. Today its 2,000 refuse trucks hit the road every morning to collect waste.


In November 2012 it secured a big refinancing. Last year its staff of over 6,300 helped to earn profits of £91m from sales of £792m.


Directors of companies featured will be invited to three awards dinners to be held at Mosimann’s Private Dining Club in London during October and November.


The Top Track 100 is published by Oxford-based Fast Track and is backed by main sponsors Linklaters.


Work to start on Westgate Centre regeneration


The long-awaited regeneration of Oxford city centre has begun – with work on the redevelopment of the Westgate shopping centre planned for completion in 2017.


Central to the new-look Oxford will be a John Lewis department store, while about 100 new shops, 122 homes, a cinema, restaurants and a new car park will replace the old and unloved Westgate, which was built in 1973.


The development, which will create more than 3,000 new jobs, will include new city squares, pedestrian walkways and a rooftop terrace.


While the development has been agreed in principle, reserved matters need to be approved by planning authorities. These are likely to be debated next month. Once final approval has been given, bulldozers and cranes will arrive at the site.


The development is being run by Westgate Oxford Alliance, a partnership formed by Land Securities and The Crown Estate.


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