Stax Trade Centres Acquires M.P. Smith & Co

Stax Trade Centres has announced that it has purchased hardware and ironmongery manufacturer
M.P. Smith and Co. Ltd, which has been a supplier to Stax for many years. This is a strategic move
by Stax to strengthen its supply chain however both companies will continue to run as separate
businesses. “Although this is great news for both Stax and M.P. Smith, it will be very much business as
usual for everyone involved,” says Stax Purchasing Director, Simon Wright.
M.P. Smith was established in the mid-70s and using the brand name SECURIT®, has been a
longstanding market leader in the UK ironmongery sector. Company founder, Mike Smith, was very
keen that any sale would ensure that the company name and reputation would continue after his
retirement.
“M.P. Smith has been a supplier to Stax for over 30 years, and it will continue to operate and supply the
wholesale trade exactly as it has done previously,” adds Wright. “Customers of M.P. Smith will continue
to receive the same great service they’re used to from the existing team.”
“Making M.P. Smith part of the wider Stax organisation simply makes our supply chain even more
robust and allows us to continue offering our retail and trade customers a very successful range of
hardware and security products under the SECURIT® brand.”
This latest move is another example of Stax investing in the market in order to support independent
retailers and tradespeople across the UK. “We promise to give our customers more choice and more
value, safeguarding the SECURIT® brand is another example of this customer centric strategy in
action.” Wright concludes.

Stax were advised on the purchase by Phillip Ball at Myerson Solicitors, and Stephen Verber and John
McCaffrey at Alexander & Co Financial and Tax advisors. David Travis and Peter Williams from the
Baldwins Corporate Finance team advised the shareholders of M.P. Smith. They worked alongside
Michele Phillips of Lupton Fawcett from a legal perspective and Sharon Westbury of Milnes & Co who
advised on tax matters.