Manufacturer of Architectural Stone Products Dorset For Sale

Business description

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Profitable established niche manufacturer of bespoke architectural/garden products
• Attractive rural location in Mid Dorset
• Share purchase option or asset purchase with secure lease if required
• Currently operated under management by highly skilled staff
• Suitable as acquisition or investment purchase
• Finance available (subject to status)

BUSINESS:
The business, which was established in 1968 and has been in the current ownership since 1996, manufactures cast stone architectural masonry and garden ornament for new buildings, extensions, refurbishments and landscape projects and has a wide range of customers including some of the UK’s leading garden designers, trusts responsible for the maintenance of historic country houses, builders and property developers at the bespoke end of the market as well as retail clients.

The larger customers typically buy a mix of off the shelf items and bespoke stone and the staff are highly practiced in the provision of valuable design and construction/fitting advice thereby reducing overall project costs for architects, quantity surveyors, project managers and end clients.

The business is being sold with a substantial stock of high quality product moulds with a long useful life and significant inherent value. A high quality website, felt to be the best in this business sector, will be included in the sale.

LOCATION:
The business trades from a rural location in Dorset.

TENURE:
Leasehold.

YEARS ESTABLISHED:
Originally established in 1968

EMPLOYEES:
The business currently has 19 employees, now being run almost entirely under management and would therefore be suitable as an acquisition or an investment purchase requiring little involvement if preferred.

TRADING HOURS:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm (public opening hours)

SALES REVENUE:
Sales in the year ended 19/12/07 stood at c £661,000.

NET PROFIT:
Reconstituted net profit based upon performance in the year ended 19/12/07 stands at c £128,000.

LEASE TERMS:
The business operates from rented premises and a new lease would be available to provide security of tenure if required. Current rental £3,700 per month + Vat.

LOCAL AUTHORITY:
North Dorset District Council

BUSINESS RATES:
Business Rates of £13,980 payable in 2008/9.

SERVICES:
The vendors advise that mains electricity, water and sewerage are all connected to the property from which the business trades.

OPPORTUNITIES:
The business has a strong and highly skilled team and the opportunity exists to secure a larger market share of available heritage project work for which an excellent reputation has been gained.

REASON FOR SALE:
The current majority owner wishes to sell to concentrate upon other business interests.

SUPPORT AND TRAINING:
The current management and staffing structure allows the business to trade without the day to day involvement of the majority shareholder.

BUSINESS PREMISES:
The business currently occupies a collection of former agricultural buildings which have been extended to provide additional accommodation for the manufacturing and drying processes together with a purpose built office unit housing the sales and administration team.

Held on an informal basis only at present but with the offer of a new and secure lease if required the current owners have welcomed the flexibility of the arrangement given the expanding nature of the business.

LIVING ACCOMMODATION:
None


FULL PARTICULARS:
Please telephone or email for full particulars

GUIDE PRICE:
The vendors seek offers in the region of £150,000 for the goodwill, stock of moulds, equipment, fixtures and fittings, subject to inventory.

VALUE OF STOCK:
A stock of weathering finished items and example pieces is available for purchase if required but is not essential to the running of the business.

COMMENTS:
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a niche manufacturer with a growing reputation and skilled workforce.

Available as either a share purchase or asset purchase with the option of a new and secure lease over the current rented premises or for relocation locally as required.

The substantial stocks of high quality product moulds have a long shelf life and offer the new owners the prospect of many years of profitable returns.

Property information

Property:

Leasehold