Materials handling and specialist retail leader Briggs Group has been acquired by Australia-based pension capital firm IFM Investors in a deal marking the next phase of its growth.
The Cannock-headquartered company, which employs around 2,100 people across than 60 locations, was previously owned by US private equity firm Sammons Enterprises.
The group has grown significantly in recent years thanks to a sustained acquisition programme across the UK and Ireland, and reported a turnover of approximately £450 million in 2025.
It comprises a portfolio of materials handling businesses, most notably Briggs Equipment, also in Cannock.
Briggs Group Managing Director Peter Jones said: “We are delighted to have exchanged on this transaction and to be commencing the next chapter of the Briggs Group as part of IFM Investors’ portfolio. Over recent years, we have deliberately built a resilient and diversified platform, and this investment is a clear endorsement of both our strategy and the quality of our people.”
He added: “IFM’s patient, growth orientated approach aligns closely with our ambitions for the Group. Their understanding of infrastructure businesses makes them an excellent partner as we look to accelerate our growth and invest further in our capabilities. Most importantly, this transaction creates exciting opportunities for our colleagues, reinforces our ability to support our customers and our OEM partners over the long term, and positions the Group strongly for continued success.”
IFM has invested more than £5 billion into the UK infrastructure over the past 20 years, with investments including stakes in M6Toll, Anglian Water and Manchester Airports Group.
Deepa Bharadwaj, Head of Infrastructure Europe at IFM Investors, said: “We are pleased to partner with Briggs as it enters the next stage of its development.
“As a well-established business operating within the infrastructure value chain, we believe Briggs is well positioned for success, and we see opportunity to support management’s growth strategy.”
