Global heating technology business Purmo Group has expanded its Ƶ business with the acquisition of a South West underfloor heating specialist.
Purmo Group has taken over Dorset’s UFHN as part of its strategy to “expand its capabilities in complete indoor climate solutions” and to continue its focus on energy efficiency.
Wimborne-based UFHN marked its 20th anniversary last year and bills itself as “ the Ƶ’s leading underfloor heating company”. Its products include electric and hydronic (water-based) underfloor heating systems as well as heat pumps and control systems, and it works across sectors including residential, education, commercial property and residential care.
Finnish group Purmo has its Ƶ base in Gateshead, with a warehouse hub in Birtley, County Durham. It also has a radiator factory in Gateshead and a fan convector plant in Hull, and the group now employs some 350 people in the Ƶ.
John Peter Leesi, CEO of Purmo Group, said: “UFHN brings a significant raft of experience from a diversity of customer markets. As well as design and supply, the company is also a hands-on installer, which will bring us a lot of synergy and understanding with our customers. UFHN in combination with our own Unitherm is particularly welcome news, since there is both potential and demand for better installation of better-performing climate solutions.”
Chris Murthi, associate director at the Camlee Group provided corporate finance-led advisory services to UFHN. Napthens were legal advisors to the sellers, with a team led by Kieran Donovan and Kevin Howard. Purmo Group was advised by Clarion Solicitors, while PwC provided financial due diligence support.
Purmo Group traces its history back to 1953 and has its global headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. It says it has made some 195 million radiators, towel-warmers and decorative heating columns in its history – “enough for everyone in Finland, the Ƶ, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Hungary and New Zealand to have one each”.
Today the group specialises in heating and climate control in buildings, offering products and services from heat pumps to underfloor heating. Other recent acquisitions include Thermotech, in Sweden, and Unitherm in Ireland.
