Assa Abloy, best known in the UK for its Yale and Union brands, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arran Isle, owner of Mila and Carlisle Brass.
A statement from Arran Isle says Mila and Carlisle Brass will continue to trade from existing locations, with no changes in the foreseeable future to management teams or operational activities.
Mila’s Maintenance business unit, based in Barnsley will become part of Assa Abloy’s commercial construction & maintenance sector.
In a statement from Assa Abloy, Harry Warrender, market regional manager and head of Assa Abloy Opening Solutions UK and Ireland, said: ”Arran Isle Group and their respective businesses bring well-known brands and an operational model that delivers consistent, great service. Their portfolio delivers on our strategy to extend the Assa Abloy product and service offering for the UK/Ireland and I look forward to welcoming the Arran Isle team to our organisation.
Assa Abloy is an international group with around 48,000 employees operating in 70 countires with sales approaching €8.4 billion from products including mechanical and digital locks, cylinders, keys, tags, security doors and automated entrances.
Arran Isle has around 560 employees, the head office is located in Bradford, West Yorkshire with operational activity at sites in UK, Ireland, Europe and China.
Mila has over 40 years track record as a hardware distributor, with a broad range of Yale products among its offering.
Its MD Richard Gyde yesterday posted: “The management teams and staff at Mila will all remain the same and none of our operational activities will be impacted by the change in ownership. In fact, Assa Abloy have been explicit in their commitment not to do anything which adversely affects our service levels or delivery performance.
“From a personal perspective, I think this is really good news for Mila. Whilst we all enjoyed working for the previous directors in a standalone relatively small group, it is in the best long-term interests of the business to be part of a larger, well-capitalised international organisation. We will have access to greater resources, products and expertise from a specialist in our market. I’m excited about the opportunities and the challenges ahead.”
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2021.
