Shepherd and Wedderburn acts in £30 million deal for Simon Howie

Shepherd and Wedderburn has acted for Simon Howie’s company, Strata International Group, in the sale of two of his businesses in a deal worth £30 million.

The Scottish entrepreneur, best known as a family butcher and haggis producer, sold Mermaid Panels and Shore Laminates, manufacturers of shower walls and wall panel systems, to US-based Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces, a global manufacturer and distributor of engineered surfaces. The acquisition adds to Wilsonart’s existing UK businesses Bushboard and Wilsonart UK, which make laminate-faced products such as kitchen worktops and wall panelling.

The Simon Howie Group, which comprises property, waste energy, bulk goods handling and distribution and farming, has a turnover of around £60 million and employs around 400 staff.  

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s corporate team, led by Partner Danny Lee, handled the legal aspects of the sale. Commenting on the transaction, Danny said: “This was our first deal for Simon and we were delighted to support him and his excellent team in delivering a great outcome for both Strata and the Shore and Mermaid businesses.”