Scandinavian firm swoops on greenhouse maker

A SPECIALIST Cheshire manufacturer of cedar wood greenhouses, has been bought by Scandinavian giant Juliana..

Gabriel Ash makes around 1,000 units a year and employs 35 people at its workshop and showroom in Farndon, near Chester.

Danish company Juliana did not disclose the terms of the deal. It was advised by Manchester law firm Cobbetts.

Gabriel Ash, which was founded 11 years ago, is the only greenhouse manufacturer to be officially endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society .

Juliana, which has subsidiaries in the UK, Germany and America, as well as major export sales throughout Europe and North America, wants to boost its sales of wooden greenhouses.

Bo Staermose, managing director of Juliana, added: “We were attracted to Gabriel Ash due to the company’s outstanding reputation and product suite, which adds cedar to our existing range.

“Juliana will now look to apply its strong international distribution channels to Gabriel Ash, allowing customers in more than 30 overseas markets access to superior quality, cedar wood greenhouses.”

Cobbetts corporate partner Ian Riggs, led the advisory team: “This deal is a good fit for both businesses, allowing Juliana to further build its presence in the wooden greenhouses market while exposing Gabriel Ash to wider export opportunities, taking into account its new parent’s strong international sales.”

In the year to the end of June 2009 Gabriel Ash saw net assets increase to £602,705 from £487,233.