Laumann Group Completes Acquisition Of Epwin Group

Following on from the news that VEKA parent company Laumann Group was to launch a bid to acquire Epwin Group Plc, the company has now announced that the acquisition has been completed.

This mega-merger was part of a frenzied period of M&A activity within the sector during the summer period.

Laumann Acquires Epwin Group

The announcement was made via a press release on the Laumann Group website:

The German-based Laumann Group SE is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of the UK-based Epwin Group plc, a formerly publicly listed and successful business within the UK construction industry. This acquisition represents a key milestone in Laumann’s long-term growth strategy, which focuses on expanding its geographic and product footprint, strengthening technical and service capabilities, and reinforcing its position as an innovative and dependable partner to the international construction sector.

The UK is considered an attractive and strategically important market for Laumann Group, which is characterized by strong demand in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector, an active housing market and upcoming public investment programs. Epwin’s established brands, specialized product portfolio and nationwide distribution network complement Laumann’s existing operations, which create opportunities for cross-selling, operational synergies, and diversification across multiple market segments.

Joint integration approach

The integration process will be managed collaboratively by Laumann Group, with all companies continuing to operate under their established brands and management structures, ensuring continuity for customers and partners.

Jon Bednall, CEO of Epwin Group, comments: “We are excited to join forces with Laumann Group, and we look forward to working collaboratively to ensure the smooth integration of Epwin into the Laumann Group of companies. This partnership will strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality products and services to our customers.”

Proven integration philosophy

Laumann Group has significant experience in successfully identifying, executing, and integrating acquisitions by leveraging synergies and combining expertise across its global network. The company will once again apply its well-established integration principle: “as much as necessary, as little as possible.” This approach, designed to preserve the strengths and individuality of each business, has already proven effective in previous integrations such as GEALAN (2014), Vinylit (2021), Syscon (2023) and PROCURAL (2023). The focus remains on creating value through collaboration while maintaining the unique capabilities that make each company successful.

The integration will follow a deliberate, step-by-step process. Both Laumann Group and Epwin Group are in excellent financial and operational health, allowing for a thoughtful and sustainable transition. Andreas Hartleif, CEO of Laumann Group, states:
“There is no need to rush. Both companies are strong and well-positioned. Our priority is to ensure a smooth integration that benefits employees, customers and partners alike. Throughout this process, both companies will continue to operate on a ‘business as usual’ basis, ensuring stability for all stakeholders”.

The statement by Laumann Group gives some indication as to how the companies under their umbrella will operate. There was some speculation when this news broke that VEKA and Epwin could have been merged into one entity. That seems not to be the case, judging by the language in this press release. However, that doesn’t rule out it not happening in the future should Laumann decide that is what is best for their business. Both VEKA and Epwin have large and loyal customer bases. That would be a difficult sell to each of their own client bases.

This is clearly one of the biggest acquisitions of the year within our sector. There may well be others before the year is out, but it is highly unlikely we will see another deal of this size this year.

Read the original press release from Laumann Group here: https://www.laumann-group.com/news/laumann-group-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-epwin-group-plc.html