The Essex-based firm called in administrators Cowgill Holloway 12 months ago, facing a loss of around £300,000 on a turnover of £2.4m. UKPRG, which also operates in the preservation market, paid £52,000 for the business, saving 44 jobs.
Managing director Malcolm Thornton said: “The preservation sector of the construction industry consists of a handful of main companies and numerous proprietor-led smaller companies each with many years of experience.
“We realised that the acquisition of Proten would add a plethora of contacts to the group's existing client portfolio which could only be normally achieved after many years of client development.”
Since the acquisition, ProTen's new management has turned around the company's fortunes, with a turnover of £3m and a £90,000 pre-tax profit forecast for the last financial year.
Among the assets purchased by UKPRG from the administrators was a patent for a system to control the waterproofing and management of radon gas.
“The patent is used to market the ADD Waterproofing & Radon Gas Management system to all companies providing basement waterproofing services,” said Thornton.
This has led to Proten winning contracts with major banks in the field of Radon Gas Management, he added. ProTen has also renewed contracts with local authorities and housing associations in connection with its core activities of damp proofing and timber treatment.
Thornton said economies of scale have been achieved by closing the old company's head office and moving staff to UKPRG's Leigh on Sea headquarters. ProTen's total number of offices has been cut from seven to three. UKPRG now operates from premises in Leeds, Birmingham, Bath, Camberley, Enfield and Essex.
ProTen's workforce currently numbers 41, with certain administrative functions centralised since the acquisition.
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