Management buy-in completed at Barnsley fabrication group

SASH-Fitrite Group, the Barnsley-headquartered privately owned PVC fabrication business, has been acquired in a management buy-in.

The £22m turnover business, which operates under the brands Sash UK and Fitrite Fencing & Decking, has been bought by John Ross and Nick Lilburn, both of whom were part of the former management team at Bradford-based SafeStyle Group.

The Yorkshire offices of corporate finance adviser Dow Schofield Watts and legal firm Squire Patton Boggs advised them on the purchase and subsequent fundraising, with the transaction backed by London-based private debt fund Praesidian Capital Europe.

Sash UK is a fabricator of windows and doors and Fitrite supplies uPVC decking. The group employs approximately 180 staff at its head office and main production facility in South Yorkshire.

John Ross, managing director, commented: “It’s great to be back operating in the industry again and Sash, as a long-established and successful fabricator in Yorkshire, provides Nick and myself with the ideal platform for doing so.

“Our plan for Sash is simple - to continue where the previous owners left off by focusing firmly on the trade, commercial and housebuilding revenue streams of the business.”

The Dow Schofield Watts team, which included Paul Herriott and Matt Thompson, was led by Tony Norwood, director, who said: “John and Nick’s track record and knowledge of the glazing industry is unparalleled and we are delighted to have advised them on negotiating the purchase of the businesses and the required fundraising that now sees them back leading a key business in the region.”

“Sash represents Dow Schofield Watts’ fourth completed deal in South Yorkshire in 2016. With previous deals including the MBOs of Yorkshire Repak and Redline, the region continues to be a core market for us.”

Richard Hunt, corporate partner at Squire Patton Boggs, led a legal team across several service lines including tax, banking and property.

He added: “It’s fantastic to see John and Nick get back involved in the sector and we are delighted to have helped them make it happen. Under their stewardship and combined with long-term funding support of Praesidian Capital Europe, the combined business now has fantastic growth potential.”

HSBC, as incumbent bank, has continued to provided clearing and invoice finance facilities to the group.

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