A Midlands-based plumbing products manufacturer has been sold in
a multi-million pound deal was lead by Birmingham-based corporate
finance advisers Orbis Partners, the UK partner of Clairfield
International, a worldwide partnership of M & A specialists and
investment banking firms.
Opella Limited, which manufactures plastic injection moulded
toilet filling and flushing products, has been bought by
California-based Fluidmaster, Inc., the world's largest
manufacturer of toilet replacement valves and other related
products.
Opella, which is based in Hereford, is the largest manufacturer
in the UK and supplies all the major DIY retailers and building /
plumbing merchants both directly and through distributors.
Opella has a reputation for innovation and product development
with a number of well-known and market leading brands including
Torbeck® and Delchem®.
Fluidmaster is a long-established business with a market leading
reputation through a distribution network across more than 80
countries. It has acquired Opella to enhance their market position,
particularly within the UK and European markets, leveraging the
existing reputation of Opella.
The Opella management team, led by principal shareholder Graeme
Fowler, will retain their positions within the company under the
new ownership. Mr Fowler will work closely with the senior
management team of Fluidmaster in continuing to exploit the market
opportunities identified.
Shah Zaki, a partner at Orbis, who acted as lead adviser in the
deal, said: "the deal represents an excellent result for the
shareholders and provides an exciting platform for the further
development of the company. Working with our network partners in
Clairfield International, we approached and received offers from a
number of strategic international potential buyers.
As a part of the Fluidmaster group, Opella is well placed to
exploit the significant opportunities within the market that
management have identified."
Orbis' transaction team was Shah Zaki and Peter Bull, an
Associate Director at Orbis.