- Sentry Doors is a specialist manufacturer of timber fire and security door-sets for the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets;
- In August, Sentry Doors announced the acquisition of E. & S. W. Knowles & Company, creating the UK’s leader in timber fire safety and security doorsets;
- The business is backed by Cairngorm Capital, an investor in private mid-market growth companies across manufacturing, distribution, and services industries;
- The loan from OakNorth Bank provide Sentry Doors with a funding package which will support its continued growth.
OakNorth Bank, the UK bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, has provided a £14.3m business loan to Sentry Doors, one of the UK’s leading timber frame fire safety and security door manufacturers.
Established in 1989, Sentry Doors is a fully certified bespoke timber fire and security door manufacturer to the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets. Operating nationally from a 44,000 sq. ft. facility in Doncaster, Sentry has established a strong reputation for manufacturing products that meet the most rigorous quality and fire certification standards. Earlier this year, the business announced the acquisition of E. & S. W. Knowles & Company, a manufacturer and supplier of bespoke internal door solutions specialising in acoustic, security, fire doors across private housing, healthcare, hospitality (hotels), student accommodation, and leisure.
The business is backed by Cairngorm Capital, a specialist private equity investment firm providing capital and management expertise to leading UK companies. It invests in private mid-market growth companies across manufacturing, distribution, and services industries, and focuses on those that can weather economic volatility and have the potential for substantial further growth. Its current portfolio companies have more than 6,500 employees and combined revenues of more than £1B.
Stuart Whiteford, Sentry Director and Cairngorm Capital Investment Director, commented: “We are pleased to have successfully completed this transaction for Sentry Doors – a strong manufacturing business we have been backing since early 2019. This debt facility from OakNorth will help position the business for future investment and growth, and enable the swift integration of the Knowles group following the acquisition earlier this year. We appreciated the speed and responsiveness of the OakNorth team – the team have strong commercial acumen and demonstrated a clear understanding of the business and its future growth potential.”
Stewart Haworth, Debt Finance Director at OakNorth Bank, continued: “Sentry Doors is an innovative business with a strong focus on quality and an experienced management team. Its acquisition of Knowles has provided it with cross-selling and upselling opportunities, as well as manufacturing capacity for growth, an even stronger sales team, and logistic synergies. With new legislation around The Fire Safety Act, the industry is primed for growth, so the above, coupled with the backing of an incredibly strong sponsor in Cairngorm and the capital from OakNorth, mean Sentry is well-positioned for this.”
OakNorth Bank received legal support on the transaction from Gateley Legal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About OakNorth Bank plc
Launched in September 2015 and founded by entrepreneurs, OakNorth Bank provides fast, flexible, and accessible debt finance to the UK’s Missing Middle.
Since its launch, the bank has:
- Lent over £8.5B, directly helping with the creation of 36,000 new jobs and 25,000 new homes across the UK.
- Raised deposits from c.175,000 savers.
- Supported several hundred businesses across the UK with the debt finance to pursue their growth ambitions.
It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Contact
Valentina Kristensen, Director, Growth & Communications – [email protected] / [email protected] / 0757 234 9009