Sammons sells Briggs rental business in UK and Ireland

US conglomerate Sammons Enterprises has sold its UK and Ireland rental business Briggs Group to pension firm IFM Investors. The price has not been disclosed.

Briggs Group is one of the largest rental companies in the UK and Ireland having reported significant growth in recent years and revenue of £450 million in 2025.

It was part of the Sammons Industrial division, which also includes North American businesses Briggs Industrial Solutions, Briggs Equipment Mexico, SitePro Rentals and Sammons Warehouse Solutions.

The North American businesses are not part of the IFM Investors deal. A spokesperson for Sammons Industrial told International Rental News that the sale had no implications for these businesses.

The UK and Irish business rents industrial forklifts, alongside specialist rental, plant hire and powered access, and also provides specialist engineering services. 

It manages around 53,000 assets, employs 2,000 staff, and operates more than 40 depots.

Peter Jones, group managing director of Briggs Group, said, “We are delighted to have exchanged on this transaction and to be commencing the next chapter of the Briggs Group as part of IFM Investors’ portfolio.

“Over recent years we have deliberately built a resilient and diversified platform, and this investment is a clear endorsement of both our strategy and the quality of our people”

Infrastructure investments

IFM has invested more than £5 billion into UK infrastructure over the past 20 years, with investments including stakes in Anglian Water, the M6Toll road and Manchester Airports Group. Its global portfolio comprises some of the world’s largest infrastructure assets, including ports and freight terminals outside the UK.

“IFM’s patient, growth orientated approach aligns closely with our ambitions for the Group,” added Jones. “Their understanding of infrastructure businesses makes them an excellent partner as we look to accelerate our growth and invest further in our capabilities.”

Deepa Bharadwaj, head of infrastructure Europe at IFM Investors, added, “We are pleased to partner with Briggs as it enters the next stage of its development. As a well-established business operating within the infrastructure value chain, we believe Briggs is well positioned for success, and we see opportunity to support management’s growth strategy”.

Click here to read 2023 interview with Sammons Industrial