Security group completes second acquisition in as many months

Bonnie Hodson

UAP, the Manchester-based security specialist, has hit the acquisition trail again with the takeover, for an undisclosed sum, of online firm Maher London, which has operations in Birmingham and London.

This is UAP’s second significant acquisition in the past two months, following its takeover of West Midlands firm Security Hardware, from Eurocell last month, and further demonstrates the ambitious growth strategy it has set itself. UAP is a door hardware supplier in the UK, selling window hardware and security products with over 3000 product lines and exporting to more than 25 different countries.

Bonnie Hodson, UAP chief financial officer, said: “We have been supplying Maher London for a few years and we have been impressed by their growth and their specialist knowledge of online sales.

“Coming out of COVID it is evident that there has been a shift in not only consumer buying trends but also some trade buying to online platforms. Acquiring what UAP consider to be the best online specialist in the market is a fantastic strategic move.”

Maher London operates exclusively online with three brands, XFORT, Sequal and Renov8, covering door hardware, fixings and decoration products.

David Jennings, UAP CEO, said: “Having a high quality brand in our portfolio like X-Fort backed by thousands of 5-star online reviews is a major coup. Additionally, the specialist online knowledge of the Maher team is exceptional and will drive our online business both in the UK and overseas.”

Adnan Haruf, of Maher London, said: “My business partner, Hassan Jamil, and myself built Maher London offering our customers exceptional levels of service, quality and value. We have taken great pride in growing the XFort brand to the scale that it is today.

“Our ambition is to make XFort a world-leading brand, and with the backing of the UAP Group, we believe that we can do just that.”

He added: “Since working with UAP several years ago we have benefited from their knowledge, product range and buying power. Now to be a part of the UAP Group where we can see our brands truly flourish is very exciting indeed.”

Based in Whitefield in north Manchester, UAP Is backed by private equity investor Maven Capital Partners.

The shareholders of Maher London were advised by John Sykes of Skye Corporate Finance in Nottingham with legal advice provided by Brigitta Naunton of Harper James in Cambridge. UAP was advised on legal matters by partner Ryan Brown and associate Bethany Grummitt of the Manchester office of Browne Jacobson.

Close