Russell Topping

Havelock Europa

In 2019, Deanestor acquired Havelock International Ltd out of administration – one of the UK's best-known furniture and fit-out brands. The Fife-based Havelock business was the UK market leader in the manufacture and installation of furniture across a diverse range of sectors including education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, banking and student accommodation. Havelock Europa Plc was listed on the main London Stock Exchange for 31 years, from 1987 to 2018 with a peak turnover of £138m in 2008. In 2001 Havelock Europa Plc acquired ESA McIntosh Ltd. Havelock International was incorporated in 2016. In 2018, the business of Havelock Europa was sold to Havelock International Ltd. The deal for the intangible assets of Havelock International Ltd included the leading education fit-out brand, ESA McIntosh. This company has a history going back to the 1860s when Alexander Henry McIntosh began making elaborate cabinetry using highly skilled craftsmen. Despite its long trading history and a well-established market position, Havelock and its subsidiaries experienced increasingly difficult trading conditions, largely due to their exposure to the weakening retail and high street banking sectors. This culminated in Havelock International falling into administration in 2019. As one of the UK's leading fit-out specialists in healthcare, education, student accommodation and build-to-rent, Deanestor is well placed to build on Havelock's long history and market position and will continue to service its client base in these core sectors. As part of the acquisition, Deanestor acquired the rights to the Havelock International brand and 13 sub-brands, registered trademarks and product lines including ESA Healthcare and ESA McIntosh. The deal also included all of the Havelock domain names and the full catalogue of Havelock, ESA McIntosh and Godfrey Syrett product designs.