A Wiltshire family-owned double-glazing company that serves Salisbury and surrounding areas has been bought by a South West construction specialist.
Cara Glass was established over 30 years ago. The company has a strong reputation for its expertise in the double-glazing industry.
Dave Lawson has been in the industry his whole career. When he planned to retire to explore other interests, it was of paramount importance to him that any new owner would take good care of Cara Glass, but also look after its employees. Many of the staff have worked with Dave for years, and he wanted assurance their loyalty and expertise would be recognised and protected.
Dave worked with Wendy Lam, a partner at Watersheds, to explore the possibilities in terms of selling his business. “He was very clear he did not want to sell to a competitor, so we began looking for buyers within the wider construction sector,” said Wendy.
“The construction market is currently very fragmented and experiencing a lot of consolidation. There was no shortage of buyers, but few who were prepared to pay full value for acquisitions. It was therefore important Watersheds found a buyer who understood the real potential of Cara Glass and would be able and willing to pay an acceptable price.
“We introduced Dave to Mark Richardson, who owns South-West construction company Camer Holdings Ltd. Mark is an entrepreneur who is not only very knowledgeable about the construction industry, but also has the energy and vision to take Cara Glass to the next level.
“We understand selling a business can be overwhelming for owners, especially having to deal with a range of external parties, while doing the day-to-day work to keep their company on track. We were able to support and advise Dave from the beginning, and project-manage the accountants and lawyers involved. This allowed him to focus on continuing to run the business successfully.”
Dave Lawson said the support Watersheds gave him made what originally seemed like a daunting process very manageable and ultimately rewarding.
“Wendy understood one of my top priorities was ensuring the company should have a strong future and that my loyal colleagues could continue to enjoy their employment there. I also wanted to realise the value built up during all the years’ work that my family has put into the company,” said Dave.
“Watersheds found me an ideal buyer, they did all the legwork in the background so I only became involved when I needed to be, and the end result is the best I could have possibly hoped for. I can move on to a new stage in my life now, knowing that I have left the company in excellent hands.”