ArcelorMittal, through its subsidiary ArcelorMittal Construction, has completed the acquisition of Architectural Steel Ltd (ASL), a Manchester-based, market-leading manufacturer of flashings and fabrications for the industrial roofing and cladding industry.
Napthens advised the shareholders of ASL on the deal, that will help ArcelorMittal Construction to widen its metal building envelope offer in the growing UK market, adding local production of specific products to its existing offer of profiles and panels imported from different facilities in western continental Europe. The business will continue to be run by the current management.
ASL has developed a national reputation in the UK as a provider for complex specifications. It offers both design and technical advice to architects, contractors and cladding specialists alike, producing a full range of high-quality bespoke elements in coated steels and aluminium. With more than 20 years of experience in the market, Manchester-based ASL has grown to become a reference in the North of England in particular.
A wide range of building materials are produced by ASL’s team, supported by an experienced in-house design team. Combined with the profiles and panels from ArcelorMittal Construction, ASL’s offer will be widened, enabling a comprehensive offer for the full envelope on building projects.
Legal advisers to Architectural Steel were Napthens led by Keith Melling, Joanne Cooper and Evie Hubble. Gerard Lucas, Ross Thomas and Alex Odlin of Dow Schofield Watts provided corporate finance advice to the shareholders of Architectural Steel.
Commenting, Jean-Christophe KENNEL, CEO of ArcelorMittal Construction, said: “We have been impressed by the diversity of products and applications of the ASL offer, by the ability of the sales and design team to find robust solutions for bespoke products and by the operational execution of the orders in terms of quality and reliability. The acquisition of ASL will allow ArcelorMittal Construction to carry on the growth started with sales of metal profiles and panels during recent years.”
Keith Melling, Partner and Head of Corporate at Napthens, said: “It’s been a pleasure to have worked with the shareholders of Architectural Steel, Kenneth and Victoria Hodge, on this disposal. ArcelorMittal is set to acquire a solid business that has thrived across the past twenty years, as the firm looks to develop its presence in the UK metals market.”
Ken Hodge, CEO of Architectural Steel Ltd, said: “We are firmly of the belief that ArcelorMittal Construction is the right home for ASL and most importantly, for its people and customers. Joining ArcelorMittal Construction will enable ASL to continue to offer customers an industry-leading experience, with a much wider product offering, including a range of exciting castellated and special profiles, whilst maintaining the levels of quality and integrity that ASL has become renowned for.”
As part of the world’s leading steelmaker, ArcelorMittal Construction develops high-performance building envelope solutions through a dedicated R&D team, expert support and local manufacturing.
