Roper Rhodes Ltd Acquired by Svedbergs Group

Majority shareholders Mark and Paul Roper, whose father Brian Roper founded the business in 1979, and the board of directors believe that this is great news for the future of our company and that Svedberg Group will be a fantastic custodian for the Roper Rhodes brands, our customers and our employees too. Svedberg Group operate exclusively in the Bathroom sector across the Nordic region, and they are specialists in the design and manufacture of bathroom products and most notably bathroom furniture, so there is a great strategic fit and multiple synergies for both businesses.

Mark and Paul Roper will leave the business with immediate effect, although current Managing Director, Leigh Leather, and fellow directors Will Steele, Simon Taylor and Chris Vallance will all remain on the Roper Rhodes operational board.

Svedberg Group targeted the acquisition of Roper Rhodes because the company fits with one of their key strategic objectives to acquire market leading brands in the bathroom sector in key European markets. They identified Roper Rhodes as a great strategic fit with three strong brands (Roper Rhodes, Tavistock & R2), impressive customer retention, employee loyalty, a focus on innovation and product development along with, of course, an enviable and long track record of profitable sales growth in the UK.

MD Leigh Leather will report directly into Svedberg Group CEO, Per-Arne Andersson, but for all other employees there is likely to be little if no change in the day to day running of the current organisation and the same can be said for Roper Rhodes customers too.

Over many years the Roper Family have received numerous approaches and offers to sell the business to both Private Equity investors and multiple Trade operators in the building products and bathroom sector. However, once Mark and Paul Roper had made their decision to sell the company the board believe that they could not have handpicked a better new owner than the Svedberg Group.

Svedbergs Group is one of the Nordic region's leading bathroom suppliers with comprehensive ranges for the entire bathroom including product categories such as; furniture, shower enclosures, bathtubs, heated towel rails, taps, showers, sanitaryware and bathroom accessories. Most of the product ranges are designed & manufactured in the Group's factories in Dalstorp and Laholm. Products are sold and distributed under three brands; Svedbergs, Macro Design and Cassøe.

The parent company Svedbergs i Dalstorp AB was started in 1920 manufacturing tin and in 1962 switched to manufacturing bathroom cabinets. During the seventies bathroom furniture was developed and during the eighties, the current focus began to develop, manufacture and market the complete bathroom under Svedberg's own brand.

Svedberg i Dalstorp AB is headquartered in Dalstorp Sweden and have been listed on the Swedish stock exchange since 1997.

Per-Arne Andersson, President and CEO of Svedbergs Group commented;

”Roper Rhodes is well-managed and financially strong with a strong market position and more than 40 years in the industry in the United Kingdom. The company is very similar to the other branded companies of the Svedbergs Group with strong brands and innovative products in different sales channels and a diverse customer base. Together with the experienced Roper Rhodes management team we are looking forward to grow in the British market, which provides clear potential going forward due to its size and underlying demand for new homes and refurbishment. The acquisition of Roper Rhodes is in line with Svedbergs’ strategy to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions and let companies operate independently with their own management and strategic focus areas while benefitting from Svedbergs’ central functions and experience.”