SCOTT GROUP HISTORY

2006 - 2009
2006 was to be a year of strong growth coupled with strengthening supply lines. The multi-million pound acquisition of Crofton Pallets in Huntingdon, the biggest deal to date, provided extensive coverage of the UK and underlined the Group's position as Europe's, and one of the world's, leading pallet manufacturers.

Through the acquisition, the Scott Group boosted turnover from £57 million to over £75 million with its Latvian operation generating a further £20 million turnover while staff numbers increased from 600 to nearly 700.

Key to the acquisition was Crofton's manufacturing sites in East England. The new Huntingdon site 'completed the map' for the Group with detailed coverage offering unparalleled levels of speed, efficiency and quality of supply to customers.

June 2006 saw John Scott win the business products and services prize at the Ernst & Young Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, in recognition of his leadership in growing the Scott Group.

The Group continued to enhance its recycling presence in the South of England with two new acquisitions in October 2006. In acquiring JN Handling in Avonmouth and KBL Pallets in Chelmsford, the Group gained strategic footholds for further strong growth.

During 2007, John Scott was presented with a Young Achievers Award by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne at the 25th SBAAT Awards which celebrate business excellence in Scotland. Also, during May of this year, the Group acquired a controlling interest in European Logistics Management Ltd (ELM) which was its biggest acquisition to date and further expanded its repair and repatriation service.

Heavy-duty packaging supply was further boosted in September 2007 with the acquisition of Manchester-based packaging business Henry Sutcliffe. With 25 highly skilled staff, Sutcliffe's gave customers access to an enhanced range of packaging solutions. These included heavy-duty corrugated board containers, die-cut fittings, corrugated plastic, plywood cases, timber cases, export packing and Sealed Air protective packaging.

September 2007 also saw the Group embark on a further diversification of the business after acquiring Fasco, suppliers of a large range of industrial equipment, tools, work wear and safety equipment.

In October 2007, the UK pallet and packaging industry was transformed with the announcement that John and Norman Scott of the Scott Group had acquired Marlaw Pallets Services Ltd in a multimillion-pound deal. Making their 27th acquisition since 1998, the purchase of Marlaw resulted in turnover soaring from £95 million to £123 million. Birchmead Ltd and Tripack Solutions Ltd were wholly owned subsidiaries of Marlaw at the time of acquisition.

In April 2008, the Group purchased both Invicta (Borough Green Sawmills) Ltd and Avonmouth Pallets.

2009 saw the Group move to new head-quarters in Scotland and continuing with its strategy of growth and diversification with the establishment of Scott Pallets in Latvia.