Stevens (Scotland), a family-owned window blind maker employing over 100 in Brechin, has been sold to Dutch giant Hunter Douglas in a multi-million pound deal.
The Scottish business was founded in 1968 and is controlled by 79-year-old director Pamela Stevens with a 57per cent stake. Her son Gordon, 52, is the firm’s managing director and owns the balance of 43 per cent.
Stevens turned over £7.4million last year and made a pre-tax profit of £496,000. It has shareholder funds of £2.3m.
The Angus firm upped its workforce in 2014 from 97 to 111, and also raised the dividend payable to Mrs Stevens from £84,000 to £210,000, and to Mr Stevens from £64,000 to £160,000.
Hunter Douglas, based in Rotterdam, is a group of 125 companies in over 100 countries, employing around 16,000.
It the world market leader in ‘Luxaflex’ window coverings and a major manufacturer of architectural products.
It said: “The acquisition of Stevens will further strengthen Hunter Douglas’ position in the UK window covering and sun protection market.
“The company’s management will remain unchanged and its employment will not be affected.”
Stevens prides itself on investment in its own manufacturing. Its website says Mr Stevens “has established the company as the leading manufacturer of quality window blinds in the UK”, and stresses the 100 per cent family ownership which “allows total independent sourcing of product for the benefit of our discerning customers”.
Stevens says its core business is the trade division, which supplies over 1000 independent blind companies throughout the UK and is "recognised within the industry for its speed of service and quality of products".
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