Black Country lawyers seal cross-border deal

A BLACK COUNTRY law firm has advised in a cross-border deal that sees a West Country mechanical seal maker sold to a US-owned Dutch company.

Hawkins Hatton acted as lead legal adviser to SM Seals, a leading manufacturer of mechanical sealing solutions for the power generation industry in its sale to Nieuwburgh BV, a US-owned company registered in the Netherlands.

Somerset-based SM specialises in the design, test, manufacture and supply of mechanical sealing solutions to the power generation sector.  The company has installations at over 270 sites worldwide with particular expertise within the hydropower industry.

Colin Rodrigues, corporate partner at Dudley-based Hawkins Hatton, advised SM Seals owner and managing director Mike Banks on the sale and purchase agreement, working with accountants the Michael Duffy Partnership.

SM Seals employ five staff and the sale to Nieuwburgh BV will help secure the long term future of the business.  The new owners plan to invest in the business and take on new staff to meet the expansion programme.

Colin Rodrigues said: “Mike Banks bought the company in 2005 but under the deal he will stay on as managing director thereby ensuring continuity within the business and customer base.”

“The company has built a reputation for supplying sealing solutions to many prestigious sites globally over many years and I’m looking forward to working with the new owners to build on this success,” added Mike Banks.