Business News


Sertec marks a major acquisition


The Jaguar made famous by Boycie (inset)


Boycie’s E-type sold at auction


A classic Jaguar E-Type used in the sitcom Only Fools & Horses sold for a ‘cushty’ sum at Silverstone Auctions. The 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III


Roadster, that starred in the second-ever episode of the legendary BBC show, fetched an impressive £115,875. The vehicle appeared in the


episode ‘Go West Young Man’ and has forever been known as ‘Boycie’s E-Type’. It was hard fought over by


several buyers in the room, before selling for more than £40,000 over its lower estimate. Another beautiful Jaguar


convertible, a 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.4 S Drophead Coupe, sold for £189,000, again more than £40,000 over its lower estimate. Leading up to the auction


house’s second ever Porsche-only sale, several highly desirable Porsches sold for strong prices. One of the finest Silverstone


Auctions’ had ever seen, a 1988 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo, sold for £171,000 including premium, a huge £60,000 over its lower estimate. Taking pride of place next to the


auction rostrum, an original UK 1963 Porsche 356B TG Super 90, that at the time of consignment was the only right-hand drive Super 90 Coupé on the market in the UK, sold for £146,250. A very well presented and maintained 1971 Porsche 911 T sold for £69,750, while those who prefer a more modern 911 were clearly impressed by a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, which sold for £208,125 including premium. Nick Whale, managing director


of Silverstone Auctions, said: “I’m delighted with the results we’ve achieved. It’s always great to see both happy sellers and buyers at an auction and we’ve certainly seen that.” Silverstone Auctions’ next sale,


The Porsche Sale, takes place back at its spiritual home of Silverstone race circuit on Saturday 15 October, followed by its final sale of the year the NEC Classic Motor Show on the 12 and 13 November.


16 CHAMBERLINK October 2016


Knotty problem: Peter Doove and Japanese knotweed growing through a building


The Sertec Group has completed a takeover of WILD Automotive – in what the major automatic supplier describes as the most important acquisition in its history. The deal will increase the


Coleshill-headquartered firm’s turnover to £250m across its 10 manufacturing plants in the UK, Germany and Hungary. Sertec says the acquisition will also enhance its product capabilities and


components and assemblies for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. WILD’s expertise is in precision components, fine blanked components,


wire forming, wire seat frames, spring parts and complex stamped assemblies, with the business enjoying a leading market share in the supply of wire seat frames to the UK automotive industry. Sertec Group managing director Dave Steggles said: “This is probably


the most important acquisition in Sertec’s history, not only because of the size of the business, but because of the new opportunities it presents. “The expertise and experience of the WILD’s management team will be


invaluable in our future growth plans. Sertec CEO Grant Adams added: “The additional support of our funding


partners has enabled us to implement this, the next stage of our growth plans and it comes hot on the heels of our agreement to centralise our Logistics operation at Hams Hall Estate. This acquisition is essential to not only our own vision, but to that of our major customers.”


Sertec Group CEO Grant Adams


‘This acquisition is essential to not only our own vision, but to that of our major customers’


customer portfolio, as well as providing an international platform at the heart of the European automotive hub. The WILD Group specialises in the manufacturing of high quality technical


The invasion of knotweed


The cost of dealing with an invasive weed is costing Midlands businesses millions of pounds each year. The weed is Japanese knotweed, whose


presence damages property and devalues land. It is the only plant known to grow through concrete, and can spread rapidly. One of the foremost experts at dealing with the


problem is Peter Doove, a Dutch expat who has lived in the UK for 38 years and is managing director of Fort Dunlop based Practical Land Remediation Ltd. He said: “Japanese knotweed cost the UK £2bn


each year, and in the West Midlands it is costing between £3-4m each year.” Japanese knotweed is such a problem in the


region, that when found on a brownfield site where there is also hazardous waste present, the cost of remediation can make the land worthless. The scale of the problem can be gauged by the


massive sum of money – £39m – that was spent to eradicate it from the site of the London Olympics. Mr Doove said: “It is a major issue, it often can


devalues a house or commercial building as the potential purchases cannot get a mortgage and the seller has to find a ‘cash’ buyer.” The good news is that the plant can be dealt


with – Mr Doove says that there are two ways, one of which is by spraying, and the other is by excavation.


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