Mobile Mini UK Ltd., the British arm of U.S. portable self-storage operator Mobile Mini Inc., has acquired Fraser Ltd., a Scotland-based storage-container business. Fraser operates a fleet of about 500 containers, which will be merged with Mobile Mini’s existing Scottish business based in Glasgow, according to the source.

Mobile Mini UK recently announced plans to grow its presence in the retail and education sectors, the source reported. The acquisition is the company’s first since 2008.

“Our acquisition is part of our growth strategy in the [United Kingdom], which includes strengthening our container-hire business and extending our reach into new market sectors such as retail and education,” Chris Morgan, managing director of Mobile Mini UK, told the source. “Frasers’ high-quality, highly utilized containers fit well with our own container fleet, and we expect a seamless transition for Frasers’ existing container-hire customers.”

The company has a fleet of more than 37,000 storage containers in the U.K., with a customer base of about 8,500 businesses, according to the source. The British division achieved revenue of £52 million last year, up 10 percent from 2013. Mobile Mini’s global sales increased 9.6 percent in 2014, the source reported.

Founded in 1983, Mobile Mini is a provider of portable-storage and mobile-office solutions. The company operates more than 130 locations throughout North America. It has operated a network of branch locations in the U.K. for 25 years.

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