Swindon business brokers deal to aid success of local high end double glazing firm

Local family-owned double glazing company Cara Glass has been bought by a South West construction specialist, in a deal completed by Swindon-based corporate finance specialists Watersheds.

Cara Glass, which has its base in Wilton, Salisbury, was established over 30 years ago by Peter and Angela Toogood, before their son Dave Lawson took over the reins in 2004, to make it a family business.

The company has a strong reputation for its expertise in the double glazing industry, and offers high-performing double glazing, roofline products, secondary glazing, commercial aluminium and other home improvement products.

Dave says he has been in the industry his whole career and that when he planned to retire to explore other interests, it was of paramount importance to him that any new owner would not only take good care of Cara Glass, but also look after its employees.

Many of the staff at Cara Glass have worked with Dave for many years, and he wanted assurance their loyalty and expertise would be recognised and protected.

Dave worked with Wendy Lam, a partner with Watersheds, to explore the possibilities in terms of selling his business.

Wendy said: “Dave was very clear he did not want to sell to a competitor, so we began looking for buyers within the wider construction sector.

“The construction market is currently very fragmented, and a lot of buyers are consolidating in this sector, but are not prepared to pay a lot, if any, money for acquisitions. It was therefore important Watersheds find a buyer who understood Cara Glass’s real potential, and would be able and willing to pay what the company is actually worth.

“We introduced Dave to Mark Richardson, who owns South West construction company Camer Holdings Ltd. Mark is an entrepreneur who is not only very knowledgeable about the construction industry, but also has the energy and vision to enable the Cara Glass to be taken to the next level.

“We completely understand selling a business can be overwhelming for owners, especially having to deal with a range of external parties, while doing the day-to-day work to keep their company on track.

“We were able to support and advise Dave from the beginning, and project-manage the accountants and lawyers involved. This allowed Dave to focus on continuing to run the business successfully.”

Dave Lawson said the support Watersheds gave him made what originally seemed like a daunting process, very manageable and ultimately rewarding.

He added: “Wendy understood one of my top priorities was ensuring the company should have a strong future and that my loyal colleagues could continue to enjoy their employment there,” said Dave.

“I also wanted to realise the value built up during all the years’ work that my family has put into the company.

“Watersheds found me an ideal buyer, they did all the legwork in the background so I only became involved when I needed to be, and the end result is the best I could have possibly hoped for. I can move on to a new stage in my life now, knowing that I have left the company in excellent hands.”