Based in Shropshire, Thomas and Fontaine Ltd are a well-established organisation supplying an internationally patented Secure Cover protective netting specially designed to prevent wind lift and protect silage stored in the clamps, as well as Secure Windbreaks and Secure Econoblinds for agricultural buildings.

Working predominantly in the dairy and livestock sector TFL are recognised as market leaders with their unique products sold under the Secure Covers brand. The company sells its range of products nationally and internationally through a network of established distributors, dealers and merchants. Highly regarded in the farming community, Secure Covers have earned a reputation for quality, durability, value and design for their leading range of Silage Covers, Windbreaks, Econoblinds and other protective agricultural products.

Whilst it is intended that Secure Covers will continue to operate as an independent business from its base in Shropshire, there are significant synergies that ARK Agriculture believe will strengthen and secure the future of both companies.

Repeat business in the UK and exciting opportunities to develop new and existing markets overseas, as well as the opportunity to cross sell products between ARK Agriculture and existing customers, make Secure Covers a prime acquisition for ARK Agriculture.

This continues ARK Agricultures mission to provide an exceptional level of service to their already strong base of customers throughout the agricultural sector.

ARK Agriculture are the UK leaders in silage storage and are the only company in the UK specialising in the supply and design of the innovative and patented sloping walled silage clamp – a structure used by renewable energy projects and livestock farmers to store silage prior to feeding to cattle or anaerobic digestion plants.

As complimentary products to the silage clamps, ARK also supply unique OXY SEAL oxygen barrier silage sheets, side-wall-films, silage clamp handrails, accessories and enzymes as part of the complete package to the end user.

ARK have supplied several of the UK’s largest silage clamp projects and have a strong clamp project pipeline of future opportunities in the promising livestock sector as they develop the market for their premium products.

As a part of The Milbank Group, ARK Agriculture join leading precast concrete manufacturers Milbank Concrete Products Ltd, mobile crane hire specialists Cadman Cranes Ltd and GRP fibreglass experts Sui Generis International Ltd.

For more information on The Milbank Group, visit their website www.themilbankgroup.co.uk. The acquisition of Thomas and Fontaine Ltd was completed on Friday 11th October 2019 with the help of Prism Corporate Broking (buy side advisors), Birketts Solicitors and Ensors (Tax Due Diligence). Thomas & Fontaine Ltd were represented by Paren Morjaria of D.R.E & Co. Corporate Accountants and Mark Briegal of Bennett Briegal LLP.

Andrew Fontaine and Gerard Thomas, Directors of Thomas & Fontaine Limited said: “For over twenty years we have focused on developing products which lead the market in quality and innovation, backed by independent scientific research. We’ve created products which deliver the results that farmers want and have enjoyed working with customers both in the UK and worldwide. We look forward to seeing ARK Agriculture developing the brands even further in the future.”

Francis Auchincloss, Managing Director of ARK Agriculture said: “On behalf of the Directors of ARK we are delighted to have acquired the Thomas & Fontaine Ltd Secure Covers® business and welcome them into ARK Agriculture and The Milbank Group. The acquisition of the Secure Covers business presents a great opportunity for ARK Agriculture to build on a successful period of steady and consistent growth within the United Kingdom and provides a platform to bolster our presence in dairy and livestock and anaerobic digestion sector nationally as well as internationally.”