HC Slingsby, a workplace equipment provider with origins dating back to 1893, has announced it is seeking a buyer. The West Yorkshire-based company, which specialises in manufacturing and distributing industrial and commercial equipment, has launched a formal sales process and is inviting potential offers for its entire issued share capital.
Founded by Harry Crowther Slingsby, the company initially focused on producing handling and lifting equipment before expanding its product range. Slingsby became a publicly listed company in 1961 and moved to the AIM stock market in 2005. Today, it offers over 40,000 products for workplaces across various industries.
The decision to pursue a sale follows a strategic review of its options. However, the company stated that it is not currently in discussions with potential buyers and has not received formal approaches.
Slingsby has struggled financially, reporting lower sales and increased costs. In October 2024, the company revealed an 8% drop in revenue over the first nine months of the year. The decline was linked to reduced customer spending, rising operational expenses, and weaker demand for seasonal goods. Additional uncertainty around tax and regulatory changes further impacted performance, resulting in an unaudited pre-tax loss of £530,000 by the end of September.
