Beauty products firm Universal in £13m deal

LANCASHIRE beauty products manufacturer Universal Products has been acquired by the Dublin-based conglomerate DCC for around £13m.

The £30m turnover business, which employs 250 people in Kirkham, has been bought by DCC’s health and beauty arm.

Known as Universal Products (Lytham) Manufacturing (UPL), it develops and manufactures a range of skincare, haircare and pharmaceutical products for beauty and healthcare brands.

It is controlled by Michael Peters through a parent company called Fairfield Universal Holdings.

DCC, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, said that UPL will improve its manufacturing and packing capabilities and make it one of the two leading British creams and liquids contract manufacturers.

DCC was advised by the Pinsent Masons’ Leeds-based corporate partner Andrew Kerr and corporate legal director Catherine Hemsworth.

Mr Kerr said: “This is the third substantial acquisition on which we have advised DCC Healthcare in less than 12 months, having previously advised on the acquisition of Kent Pharmaceuticals and Leonhard Lang UK.”