Frettens Handle Seven Figure Acquisition Deal

A Hamphire firm has become the UK’s second largest wholesale supplier of picture frames and glass after acquiring a former rival in a seven figure deal.

AL Younger, which trades as Wessex Pictures, has bought Glass & Mirror Ltd (G&M) which operates from offices in Leatherhead, Surrey, and Oldham, Lancashire. Founded in 1986, G&M has nearly 3,000 accounts and delivers more than 30 tonnes of framing materials daily using its fleet of lorries and vans.

Wessex Pictures, which is based on the Gordleton Industrial Park at Sway Road, Pennington, is owned and managed by the Younger family. Chairman Len Younger, 74, founded the company with his son, Ashley, in 1982. A second son, Philip, and fellow director Martin Teconi joined in the following four years. Together Wessex Pictures and G&M will have a combined annual turnover in excess of £11 million and employ 115 staff.

“G&M is the biggest supplier of picture framing glass in the UK and this is a very important acquisition for us,” explained Len Younger.“The entire picture framing and glass sector is small and highly specialised accounting for about £80 million worth of turnover. This deal makes us the second largest wholesale supplier of picture frames and glass to the sector,” he added.

Advisers for the acquisition included Matthew Fretten of law firm Frettens Solicitors, Paul Stewart of Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest and Martin Aldridge of chartered accountants and business advisers Princecroft Willis LLP. “They did an excellent job and we’re very grateful to them,” said Mr Younger.