Flint Bishop advise on cross-border sale of UK rail sector leader

Flint Bishop is delighted to announce that we advised Tidyco, a leading UK manufacturer, on its successful sale to Indutrade AB, a Swedish-based international technology and industrial business group.

Tidyco, based in Derby, has been a significant supplier of hydraulic and pneumatic products and assemblies to the rail industry for over 50 years. In addition to rail sector services, Tidyco provides overhaul services and specialises in aftermarket support for rail rolling stock. The company also serves other industrial sectors, offering expertise in commercial HVAC solutions and mobile hydraulic hose replacement.

The acquisition by Indutrade adds Tidyco to a portfolio of around 200 subsidiaries and 9,600 employees across more than 30 countries. Indutrade is known for fostering growth through knowledge sharing and acquisitions in sectors including Industrial & Engineering, Infrastructure & Construction, Life Science, Process, Energy & Water, and Technology & Systems Solutions.

James Tidy, Managing Director of Tidyco, commented:

“Having recently completed the sale of Tidyco with Roy Farmer, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the team at Dains. The whole process took approximately five months from start to finish. I took full advantage of the Dains ‘one-stop shop’, benefitting from their expertise in business pre-sale preparation, IM production and analysis, sales negotiation, tax advice, integration with legal advisers, accountancy, audit, and most importantly, delivering the deal. It has been a pleasure working with Roy. From a seller’s perspective, I have felt in safe hands all the way. There was never any drama—just cool, methodical, sensible, and measured responses backed up with sound facts and input from my business.”

Martyn Brierley, Head of Corporate & Finance at Flint Bishop, who acted as the sell-side legal adviser on behalf of Tidyco’s shareholders, with support from George Ottewell, added:

“The transaction was completed within a challenging three-week timescale, which included a pre-sale reorganisation. We worked diligently to close the deal ahead of budget, delivering significant tax savings to the shareholders before the scheduled capital gains tax increases. This acquisition highlights Tidyco’s strong market position and aligns seamlessly with Indutrade’s growth strategy for the rail sector. We are proud to have facilitated a smooth, accelerated transaction that positions Tidyco for continued success under Indutrade’s ownership.”

Dains Accountants, led by Roy Farmer, Head of Corporate Finance, and supported by Lisa Richards, Constance Host and Brendan Shea, worked closely with the Tidyco team to navigate the complexities of the sale. Tax support was provided by Adam Longmore and Rebecca Jones.