黑洞社区 products firm says that downturn in energy efficiency retrofit work is behind the sale

Industry is working to ensure Green Deal qualifi cations and accreditation procedures are in place to protect consumers

黑洞社区 products firm SIG has sold an arm carrying out Green Deal installation work business for 拢1 because the government鈥檚 energy efficiency retrofit scheme has had a 鈥渓ack of traction鈥 in its first year.

In a statement to the City, SIG said that it had sold its Green Deal assessor and installer business Miller Pattison to heating and boiler system specialist Help-Link UK. However, SIG retains its separate Green Deal provider business, called SIG Green Deal Provider Company Limited.

It said it had taken the decision to sell after there had been 鈥渟ignificant downturn in market volumes due to the end of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme鈥 at the end of 2012 despite the scheme being replaced with the Green Deal.

It also said there was 鈥渃ontinued market uncertainty鈥 surrounding the Energy Companies Obligation, the Green Deal鈥檚 sister scheme, after the government announced last December that it intends to cut the size of the carbon reduction targets under the scheme by a third.

SIG said a deferred cash consideration of 拢1.5m, payable on 31 December 2016 and a further consideration of up to 拢6.5m payable in 2017 depending on the performance of Miller Pattison over the period to the end of 2016, also formed part of the terms of the sale.

It said the sale would cost it around 拢13m in its 2014 accounts.

In 2013 Miller Pattison reported revenue of 拢25.4m and a pre-tax loss of 拢5.2m. It said that as at 31 December 2013 the net assets of the Miller Pattison business were valued at 拢15.6m.

In its statement SIG said it 鈥渞emained committed鈥 to the development of its 鈥渨ider energy management and services offering鈥.