A company which designs, manufactures and installs specialist seating at locations including football stadiums, theatres, cinemas and university lecture theatres has passed to the next family generation as a result of a management buyout.
Husband-and-wife duo Christopher and Nicole Smalley have acquired Evertaut from his parents, Nigel and Gail, for an undisclosed sum.
Evertaut, which is based on the Shadsworth Business Park in Blackburn, employs 16 staff and turns over £1.6m.
Matthew Catterall, a corporate partner at north west law firm Taylors Solicitors, advised Christopher and Nicole on their MBO.
Evertaut was established in the 1930s as a manufacturer of industrial furniture for factories and offices. The business has undergone many changes over the years, but has remained a key player in the commercial seating market with a loyal customer base.
Nigel joined Evertaut as a warehouse operative in 1981 and rose through the ranks to take on the role of director in 2002 following an MBO. With Nigel at the helm as director and Gail as company secretary, the couple took full ownership in 2013. They plan to retire as a result of the sale to their Christopher and Nicole.
Christopher started with Evertaut as a teenager on the factory floor. He worked initially in production, then with the CAD team, before becoming part of the management team. Nicole, who has more than 20 years’ experience in TV and advertising, joined Evertaut in 2020 as head of operations. She and Christopher become directors following the buyout.
Evertaut, which uses sustainably-sourced timber and timber-based products, supplies new seating and undertakes refurbishment projects nationwide.
Its vast range of completed large-scale refurbishment projects have included VIP seats for the directors’ area and executive boxes at Premier League football clubs, including Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
Evertaut has also overseen the refurbishment of seating at theatres, including the Royal Court in Liverpool and The Blackpool Opera House in the resort’s Winter Gardens.
Other contracts include ones for tiered seating in lecture theatres at leading universities such as Cambridge, Manchester and Warwick. The company also supplies seating for workspaces such as offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms, waiting rooms, reception areas, children’s nurseries, surgeries, hospitals and fitting rooms, as well as conference chairs.
It provides a complete bespoke service, encompassing design, installation, free site surveys and space planning, with all manufacturing taking place in Lancashire.
Matthew Catterall said: “It’s extremely pleasing to have acted for Christopher and Nicole to bring this very successful Lancashire business down to the next generation. Evertaut has designed and manufactured quality seating solutions since its inception in the 1930s, priding itself on high standards of manufacturing and customer care alongside continued innovation and progression.
“The transaction ensures stability for employees and customers, and we wish Christopher and Nicole all the best for the future. I am sure Evertaut will continue to go from strength to strength in their hands.”
Christopher and Nicole said: “We are incredibly proud to have finalised our acquisition of Evertaut. The company and our staff have the advantage of having garnered almost a century’s worth of knowledge and expertise and we are thrilled to be able to continue its legacy.
“Staff are local to the area and know Evertaut, the team all care about the quality of the chairs that we produce, and we really care about the team. We are excited to begin work on some big plans for the future, including the launch of our heritage range next year.
“We are thankful to Matthew and the team at Taylors for providing a smooth, reliable and professional service. From start to finish, Matthew has been knowledgeable and quick to respond to any queries we have had about the process. We look forward to strengthening this relationship in the future as we move forward with the business.”
