RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global omni-channel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to acquire John Liscombe Limited (Liscombe), a leading supplier of industrial safety and personal protective equipment (PPE). Together with Needlers, our recent PPE acquisition within the food manufacturing vertical, the two businesses will provide a full range offer and expertise across key sectors within safety and PPE.

Liscombe is a leading specialist supplier of high-risk hand protection and PPE products to industrial blue-chip customers. It offers value-added services such as managed stores, vending, lockers and specialist technical support and advice. Along with its private labels - Contact, C-Safe and Multi-Pro, Liscombe supplies products from the major PPE suppliers, and has the capability to design and assemble bespoke PPE products and prototypes that match their customers’ requirements. The business has over 40 years’ experience in Far East sourcing and has established some of the industry’s longest direct trading relationships with PPE manufacturers.

The strength that RS, Needlers and now Liscombe has in their respective markets, will create a leading multi-industry specialist supplier of PPE products and value-added solutions.

Stephen Morris, Joint Managing Director, Liscombe commented: “Becoming part of the Electrocomponents group will accelerate our growth in industrial markets. We have the opportunity to expand beyond our existing customer base by utilising the scale and international spread of the Group, leveraging their industry-leading digital offer and expertise.”

Richard Morris, Joint Managing Director, Liscombe commented: “I am impressed with Electrocomponents’ clear business plan to expand its offering and become a leading multi-specialist provider of PPE. Both businesses focus on supporting customers through value-added solutions and exceptional customer service, meaning together, we can amplify the Liscombe proposition to new customers.”

Pete Malpas, President EMEA, RS Components, commented: “The acquisition of Liscombe will deepen our expertise, value-added solutions and product range in the PPE market. Both Liscombe and Needlers are highly complementary to our UK business and will accelerate our journey to become first choice for our customers, suppliers and our people. We have an exciting future in the PPE market and our ambition is to be a major player.”

Lindsley Ruth, Electrocomponents Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The acquisition of Liscombe is aligned to our strategy of selectively adding high-quality, value-creating bolt-on acquisitions to the Group. Liscombe’s safety and PPE products are already purchased by a significant number of our existing Electrocomponents’ customers. We see significant opportunity for Liscombe, and Needlers, to capitalise on leveraging Electrocomponents’ global presence, broad range, private-label expertise, operating efficiencies and omni-channel distribution capabilities. We welcome Liscombe to the Electrocomponents Group.”