The Rich List - Part 2
In part 2, we look at the next three companies on the rich list, with an in depth look at Arpo Global, one of the UK companies that have taken on Private Equity investment. We also show some of the background changes to facilitate the sale of UBT.
4. Elmdene Group
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Family: Douglass
Assets: £30.8 million Turnover: £64.5 million Employees: 208 |
Business: Composite decking manufacture
Location: Coventry Covid Contracts: No Website: millboard.co.uk/ |
Directors/Shareholders: Jerry Douglass, Guy Douglass, Harvey Douglass, James Douglass & Annette Douglass
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Summary
The Coventry based Elmdene Group is owned by the Douglass family. The group subsidiaries are The Millboard company, Fixings Direct Central & Murray Uniforms. Employing over 200 employees, it is arguably the biggest brethren company when removing covid contracts.
The financials for Elmdene Group are exceptional, with turnover at £64.5 million in 2021, rocketing since reporting £43.1 million in 2020 & £36.5 million in 2019. An increase in 2 years of 76%! We highlight this as the growth in profit is even more substantial. Gross profit has gone from £10.2 million 2019 to £25.7 million in 2021 (251%). Net profit after tax from £3.18 million in 2019 to £15.33 million in 2021. A stunning growth of 482%!! In fact we could only find the parent company of Inivos with a bigger after tax profit & they won a £120+ million PPE contract! It is also worth noting that growth is particularly strong in Europe & Rest of the World, now accounting for 30% of Turnover, compared to 18% just 3 years ago. Being non partisan the composite decking does look a great product. It is also interesting that James Douglass (known as Jay), sold a previous business Stonemarket to Marshalls PLC. The family must be millionaires many times over. |
Plymouth Brethren links
Jerry Douglass resigned as a trustee/director of brethren charity OneSchool Global UK in 2022 after serving for 3 years. He is also a former trustee of the Copsewood education trust, the fundraising charity for the OneSchool in Atherstone. James (Jay) Douglass is a former director of Factor4 UK Ltd, which is the trading subsidiary of the Copsewood education trust. Old annual reports of the charities show that the Douglass family provided substantial loans to fund the brethren school in Atherstone. |
5. Arpo Global
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Family: Turner, Mcintyre
Assets: -£1.8 million Turnover: £30.1 million Employees: 70 |
Directors/Shareholders: Stephen Turner, Marcus Turner, Clive Turner, Charles McIntyre, Craig Turner, Dale Turner, George Turner
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Summary
Arpo Global, the Kings Lynn based packaging firm, in an unusual step for a brethren company, have had an significant private equity investment in the summer of 2021. The current directors listed on companies house are therefore all non brethren. Through a somewhat convoluted structure, the company is owned by Southgate Global Holdings Ltd. The shareholders here are the Turner family and Charles McIntyre, along with the PE investors Rutland Partners. Rutland Partners were founded by Michael Langdon, now retired Langdon was a Conservative party donor, paying to be part of the infamous "leader's group" donors, when David Cameron was party leader. The financials of Southgate Global Holdings take a little unravelling. Gross Profit for 2021 was £4.1 million, though pre tax this translated to a £5.1 million loss! Tax was reclaimed to give a total loss after tax of £4.4 million. The assets include all loans & overdraft facilities, showing total assets of (minus)£1.8 million. Closer inspection show that this is based on the acquisition of Arpo Global for £55 million. There is a bank loan of £32 million due within 12 months. The company have also a debenture facility (finance if required) worth £20 million. In summary, a brethren company taking on board private equity is a complete reversal of common practice for the last few decades. It would have led to brethren members being withdrawn from (ex-communicated) in the past. We therefore surmise that this must have had the highest seal of approval. Arpo Global are not the only company to take on PE in the last 2 years. We will visit again further down the rich list. It is worth noting that Southgate Global (Southgate Packaging) were the beneficiaries of a covid contract, winning £217k contract from DHSC to supply aprons. There is however another contract awarded to Southgate Global (previous name of Arpo Global), that has left Open & Candid a little bewildered. The contract awarded by the NHS Supply Chain, in July 2021, (just prior to PE investment) is a non exclusive framework agreement awarded to 13 suppliers (including a total of 4 brethren companies). It is for Disposable Cubicle Shower & Window Curtains. Arpo/Southgate is a packaging company. |
Plymouth Brethren links
The Turner family are a senior brethren family. There are a number of links to other PBCC entities, including UBT.
Stephen Turner was a director of two UBT companies, UBT Rockbridge Ltd & UBT Gateway Ltd, along with other brethren members Derek Hall & Jonathan Lyons. There were other brethren listed as shareholders Darren Meek, Robert Francis & Lionel Burgess. UBT Rockbridge & UBT Gateway were incorporated in November 2021 and the directors resigned in March 2022. Turner along with other brethren members remains a shareholder in both companies. It would appear that these companies were used in the transfer/sale of UBT (EU) Ltd from being a trading company of the charity The Grace Trust, to being a subsidiary of UBT Holdings Ltd. UBT Holdings Ltd was also incorporated on the same day & at the same registered address as UBT Rockbridge & UBT Gateway. Though UBT Holdings Ltd has 2 different brethren members as directors/shareholders Michael Besley & Graham Whitbourn. 
Stephen Turner & Charles McIntyre are both trustees of Downham gospel hall trust. The brethren meeting room charity. Craig Turner is a director of Nexus Team Ltd. This is the trading subsidiary (Campus & Co) of the Medeshamstede Education Trust, a charity that raises funds for a OneSchool. Stephen Turner is a former director of Nexus Team. |
6. Hexdown Ltd
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Family: Gates
Assets: £18.9 million Turnover: £15.6 million Employees: 108 |
Business: Partitions, Screens, Hoardings & Temporary buildings
Location: Stafford Covid Contracts: ? Website: www.westgateuk.co.uk/ |
Directors/Shareholders: Edward Gates, John Gates, Gerrard Gates
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Summary
The Stafford based Hexdown Ltd is owned by the Gates family. It is the parent of Westgate Global, E Gates, J Gates & ME Gates. In terms of turnover Hexdown Ltd is not in the top 10 of brethren companies. In assets though the business is clearly one of the wealthiest brethren companies. Gross profit for 2021 was £7.7 million, after tax profits of £2.6 million. A company that did not claim any R&D or patent box relief. Though did claim gift aid worth £15k.
We can find no details of covid contracts for Westgate Global or any of the other subsidiaries. On the Westgate website however the company states that they supplied their modular UPVC screens, Hoardfast, to the Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Glasgow & Bangor. |
Plymouth Brethren links
Gerrard Gates is a trustee of the Stafford gospel hall trust, a brethren meeting room charity for the Stafford brethren. John Gates is a trustee of the Copsewood education trust. The charity fundraiser for the OneSchool Global in Atherstone. He is also a director of the Copsewood trading arm Factor 4 UK Ltd, who run the Campus & Co stores in the area. |