JOHNSON Service Group, the Runcorn-based dry cleaning to workwear hire business, has announced a £6.1m acquisition.

Its Johnsons Apparelmaster textile rental arm has exchanged contracts with OCS Group for the purchase of Cannon Textile Care, which operates a textile rental business from laundries in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, Newmarket and Balham, and further depots in Gateshead and Birmingham.

The acquisition is subject to approval from the Office of Fair Trading.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of March, but could still be rescinded if there is an adverse change to conditions within the business before May 29.

Cannon Textile revenues are approximately £15m and the value of the deal could be adjusted, up or down, depending on revenues at the date of completion.

Johnson says it will meet acquisition costs in cash from its current debt facility.

The cost of integrating the business into the group, which includes the Prescot-based dry cleaning division, is estimated at £1.7m, which will be treated as an exceptional item in the 2012 figures.

Johnson chairman John Talbot said today: "We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this acquisition.

"It will allow Johnson Apparelmaster to improve its service to customers through an expanded geographical coverage."