National Hickman has been taken over by Masonite International for £52m as US buyers look to invest in stable UK market

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Ðǿմ«Ã½ materials specialist National Hickman has been snapped up by a US firm for $82m (£52m).

Masonite International Corporation announced the acquisition yesterday.

National Hickman employs 400 people at sites around the UK.

Chris Virostek, senior vice president, strategy implementation and corporate development, at Masonite said: “Hickman’s leadership in providing doorkit solutions to the homebuilder market in the UK is a natural extension of our UK business. Hickman’s deployment of automation and product line leadership complements the strategies we are pursuing with our business.â€

Investment bank Lincoln International has been advising National Hickman on the sale and Phil McCreanor, head of UK M&A at Lincoln International, said: “Competition for construction companies is likely to intensify as the improving economy underpins confidence in the sector.â€

“We are already seeing interest from both trade and private equity buyers in the right targets, with cross-border interest having a dynamic effect on the mid-market M&A market in the UK. The strength of the dollar, US banks’ willingness to lend and high corporate valuations in the US are increasing interest in cross-border acquisitions.

“For US buyers, the dynamics of their own domestic market make investing in a stable, growth market like the UK very attractive.â€