Family business Coupe Group in County Durham has been sold
Jack Coupe and Sons Limited was established in Shildon 1984 by Jack Coupe.
The business was later taken over by his sons, Mark and Martin Coupe, in 2010.
The company, which employs 42 staff members, was acquired by Stuart Davison, who has plans to expand its operations.
The company, which is a national contractor with bases in the north and south of England, has an ‘excellent industry reputation’, demonstrated by its BAE Systems Approved contractor status, which it has held since 2013.
Martin Coupe said: “My dad set up the business 40 years ago and over this time we have worked hard to build up the business.
“When we started to consider selling the business, it was really important that we found the right person to take over our family business and continue our legacy, whilst also looking after our loyal workforce.
“We are delighted that Armstrong Watson introduced us to Stuart and believe he is the perfect fit to continue the growth of the business with his personable approach.
“We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Coupe Group and wish Stuart well.”
The company has a number of specialist trading divisions, including Coupe Line, Coupe Line Southern, H2-GO, and Shildon Thermoplastics.
The Coupe family was advised by Armstrong Watsonโs Corporate Finance team and legal advisers at Ward Hadaway.
David Wilson, Corporate Finance Partner at Armstrong Watson, said: “Coupe Group are a hugely successful, long-established road maintenance business that has been a significant player in the sector for over 30 years.
“As a second-generation family business, our clients were very selective on who should acquire the group in order to protect and grow the staff, brand, and family legacy and, once we introduced Stuart, there was no doubt that he was the right person to build on their exceptional market position and deliver on all the exciting growth opportunities.
“It was an absolute pleasure for Ellis, Hayley and I to advise Martin and Mark and deliver this transaction ahead of tax rises in April, and we very much look forward to following Coupe Groupโs progress as they look to deliver on their exciting growth plans.”
Richard Butts, Corporate Partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “We were delighted to advise on this highly significant transaction for them, particularly as we have a long-standing relationship with the family and the Coupe Group.
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“I echo David’s comments about the businessโs success and its significance in the sector over the last 30 years.
“As well as specialists in the Corporate team – Clare French, Imogen Holland, Lena Chua, Nick Williams and I – the transaction required us to deploy expert advice from across the firm in real estate, employment and data protection law, to name but a few.
“We look forward to following Coupe Groupโs progress under new ownership.”
In 2010, the business acquired the trade and assets of Adams Contracting to expand operations in the South of England, now recognised as Coupe Line Southern.