Cairngorm Capital Partners is making a further investment in Polyframe Group Limited (Polyframe), a UK manufacturer of trade windows and doors, to facilitate Polyframe’s acquisition and merger with Customade Group Limited (Customade).
The enlarged group, with revenues in excess of GBP100 million, will trade as Customade and now has a comprehensive product range across aluminium windows, composite entry doors and PVCu products. It operates nationwide, with almost 900 employees across 10 manufacturing facilities extending from Scotland to the South-West.
Established in 1980, Customade is a specialist manufacturer of high-quality aluminium and PVCu windows, doors and conservatory roof products. Known for its proprietary and market-leading REAL, Atlas and Fineline aluminium brands, the company operates from 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production and storage facilities near Gloucester, employing 320 people. In 2016 it achieved turnover in excess of GBP35 million.
Following earlier investments in Polyframe, WB Group, and Stevenswood’s manufacturing facility, the Customade acquisition is Cairngorm Capital’s fourth proprietary, o -market transaction in the window and door manufacturing sector since July 2016. This latest investment is consistent with Cairngorm Capital’s strategy to invest in well-performing UK companies to support ambitious management teams in driving transformation, introduce new technology and manufacturing processes and extend geographic reach.
John Lightowlers, Customade’s Managing Director becomes Group Managing Director of the enlarged rm and continues to hold a signi cant ownership stake. With over twenty years’ leadership experience in the windows and doors market and having led Customade for the past 12 years, John has been instrumental in Customade’s growth and success.
Gatfield says: “Since July 2016, we at Polyframe have undertaken a range of strategic initiatives to develop a best-in-class offering for our trade customers, strengthen our manufacturing operations and extend our geographic presence. Customade’s market-leading and proprietary products complement, expand and differentiate Polyframe’s product offering, particularly in the rapidly growing aluminium sector. The merger will accelerate our initiatives and secure our position as the largest trade fabricator of windows and doors to the UK installer market.”
Lightowlers adds: “This is the perfect partnership for two businesses with shared values, a market-leading suite of products and a commitment to the highest standards of customer service. There are great opportunities across the sector and as an enlarged group we look forward to meeting all trade customers’ product needs.”
