Fife-based James Donaldson Group is eyeing at least two near-term acquisitions as part of its ‘aggressive’ expansion strategy in the timber roof truss and sawmilling sectors.

The sixth generation family business already operates a sawmill at Leven and a timber engineering factory at Buckhaven, as well as five roof truss facilities south of the border at Oxford, Andover, Ashford, Cramlington and Nottingham. Four of the facilities in England have been unveiled within the last five years and Donaldson Timber Engineering now claims to be the UK’s largest independent timber trussed rafter manufacturer with a capacity to produce more than 17,000 units per week.

Confirming that the group was actively pursuing further acquisitions, finance director Ian Hawkins commented: “We are looking at two prospects currently and we should know in the next couple of months if they are going ahead.” Discussions surrounding a third potential acquisition were “at a very early stage”, he added.

&#8220Our gearing ratio is down at 35% which gives us a platform to launch into acquisitions”

Donaldson finance director Ian Hawkins

Mr Hawkins noted that a move into timber frame manufacture was not a target for James Donaldson and that growth plans were firmly focused on its existing core businesses of sawmilling and roof trusses “because we still think there is room for expansion in both these areas”. The search for new sites was taking in England, Scotland “and elsewhere”, he said.

In the financial year to March 31 2003, the group increased its profits by 7% to around £1.5m and its turnover by 11% to £41.6m. “Our gearing ratio is down at 35% and we are very pleased with that,” said Mr Hawkins. “It gives us a nice platform to launch into acquisitions.”