Sentry Doors moves for historic firm

Doncaster-headquartered Sentry Doors, a Cairngorm Capital Partners portfolio company, has acquired a bespoke internal door manufacturer.

E & S W Knowles & Co, which was established in Birmingham in 1923, manufactures specialist timber internal door sets, offering bespoke, sector-specific products on a national basis.

Managing director Steve Horner will join Sentry's senior management team and continue overseeing Knowles' operations.

Martin Wright, Knowles' majority shareholder and chairman, said: "Next year Knowles celebrates its centenary. Whilst I am extremely proud of all that Knowles has achieved in the last 99 years of my family's ownership, I know that Knowles has the capability to achieve much more.

"I believe this is a natural point for the family to pass the company to new, trusted custodians who are as passionate as us about their customers and can deliver Knowles' future potential. Knowles has found a perfect partner in Sentry, and I firmly believe the companies will achieve great things together."

MHA Corporate Finance acted as lead adviser to the company's shareholders, introducing Cairngorm and Sentry as a strategic acquirer.

Partner James Lawson said: "The MHA team and I are exceptionally proud to have advised Knowles' shareholders on its sale to Sentry.

"My team is dedicated to providing high-quality, hands-on M&A advice to shareholders and management teams in the mid and lower-mid market, but it's especially gratifying to act as a trusted adviser to a business with a 100-year family legacy, and to deliver an outcome which meets the interests of all stakeholders against the demanding brief Martin and the Knowles team set us."

Ty Aziz, Sentry's chief executive, added: "This partnership will help us to respond to the surge in demand for our products, as well as providing our customers with a comprehensive range of fire safety and security solutions, and a greater choice of features and finishes.

"It marks a key milestone in the growth strategy for our businesses and advances our collective ambition to be UK leaders in this sector."

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