A manufacturer of doors founded almost a century ago has been bought out. Birmingham-based E&SW Knowles has been sold to Doncaster outfit Sentry which makes bespoke, certified timber fire and security door sets and screens.
Established in 1923, Knowles also makes timber internal door sets and trades nationally, serving clients in the commercial, healthcare, education and leisure sectors.
Sentry said its undisclosed acquisition of Knowles would accelerate innovation and growth in the combined group and augment sector coverage and expertise.
Knowles' managing director Steve Horner will join the combined group's senior management team and continue to manage Knowles day-to-day to deliver continuity for staff and customers.
Chairman and majority shareholder Martin Wright said: "Next year Knowles celebrates its centenary. While I am extremely proud of all that we have 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."
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Sentry's chief executive Ty Aziz added: "I am delighted to welcome Knowles to Sentry. It has a fantastic manufacturing heritage, an exceptional team and a superb product range so we can learn a lot from one another.
"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."
Corporate finance firm MHA advised Knowles on the sale and the transaction was supported by Cairngorm Capital Partners.
MHA partner James Lawson said: "The MHA team and I are exceptionally proud to have advised Kowles' shareholders on its sale to Sentry. 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.
"Both Sentry and Knowles are high performers in the sector and we are confident Ty, Steve and the Cairngorm team will continue to grow the combined group and guide it on an exciting future to reach its full potential."
