20 DEALMAKERS
FAMILY IS SITTING COMFORTABLY
A company which designs, manufactures and installs specialist seating at football stadiums, theatres, cinemas and university lecture theatres has passed to the next family generation in a management buyout.
Husband-and-wife duo Christopher and Nicole Smalley have acquired Evertaut from his parents, Nigel and Gail, for an undisclosed sum.
Evertaut, which is based on the Shadsworth Business Park in Blackburn, employs 16 staff and turns over £1.6m.
The business was established in the 1930s as a manufacturer of industrial furniture for factories and offices. It has undergone many changes over the years but has remained a key player in the commercial seating market with a loyal customer base.
Nigel joined as a warehouse operative in 1981 and rose through the ranks to take on the role of director in 2002 following an earlier MBO.
With Nigel at the helm as director and Gail as company secretary, the couple took full ownership in 2013. They plan to retire as a result of the sale to Christopher and Nicole.
Christopher started with Evertaut as a teenager on the factory floor. He worked initially in production, then with the CAD team, before becoming part of the management team.
Nicole, who has more than 20 years’ experience in TV and advertising, joined Evertaut in 2020 as head of operations. She and Christopher become directors following the buyout.
The company and our staff have the advantage of having
garnered almost a century’s worth of knowledge and expertise
Evertaut, which uses sustainably sourced timber and timber-based products, supplies new seating and undertakes refurbishment projects nationwide.
Its vast range of completed large-scale refurbishment projects have included VIP seats for the directors’ area and executive boxes at Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
Evertaut has also overseen the refurbishment of seating at theatres, including the Royal Court in Liverpool and The Blackpool Opera House in the resort’s Winter Gardens.
Other contracts include delivering tiered seating in lecture theatres at leading universities such as Cambridge, Manchester and Warwick.
The company also supplies seating for workspaces such as offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms, waiting rooms, reception areas,
children’s nurseries, surgeries, hospitals and fitting rooms, as well as conference chairs.
It provides a complete bespoke service, encompassing design, installation, free site surveys and space planning, with all manufacturing taking place in Lancashire.
Christopher and Nicole say: “We are incredibly proud to have finalised our acquisition of Evertaut. The company and our staff have the advantage of having garnered almost a century’s worth of knowledge and expertise and we are thrilled to be able to continue its legacy.
“Staff are local to the area and know Evertaut, the team all care about the quality of the chairs that we produce, and we really care about the team. We are excited to begin work on some big plans for the future, including the launch of our heritage range next year.”
The buyout represents
the next chapter for some exciting developments
Meanwhile, Burnley-based textiles firm Ashfield Mill and its two subsidiaries have been acquired through an MBO. It is another long- established family run concern looking ahead to a new chapter.
The buyout was led by Simon Blackley, who has been a director since 2009 and has been instrumental in the firm’s growth through his work with co-owners and directors David and Megan Collinge.
The deal also includes John Spencer (Textiles) and Ian Mankin. These, and the parent company, will retain their respective identities and no jobs will be affected.
John Spencer was incorporated in 1971 but the business dates back 150 years. It has grown to become one of the leading weaving businesses in the UK making a wide range of fabrics in a diverse selection of yarns and raw materials.
Simon Blackley says: “David and Megan have built a strong group of companies. I am excited to build on their success. I am looking forward to the prospect of further developing the business through innovation and creative change.”
Exiting co-owner David Collinge said: “Being the sixth generation of our family to run the business and being part of the team and journey that has witnessed the Ashfield Mill group of companies develop into superior, widely recognised brands has been fantastic.
“The buyout represents the next chapter for some exciting developments, initiating even more growth, I have no doubt that under Simon’s leadership the businesses will continue to do amazing things.”
SOLVING BUSINESS OBJECTIVES
forbessolicitors.co.uk 0333 207 1130 Offices in Lancashire, Manchester and Leeds.
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