Leading supplier Prima Corporate Wear has bought out long-established security uniform provider Sharps Freeman in a 拢1 million deal.
Prima already boasts a 33% market share, with 65% of its corporate business generated in the security sector.

Maidstone-based Sharps has been supplying the corporate security sector for over 20 years, but with managing director Martin Sharp set for retirement the business will now be integrated as part of Prima's existing London Docklands-based operation.

The acquisition comes at the right time for Prima 鈥� supplier of uniforms to guarding contractors including Securiplan, Galago, Trident Safeguards and Securitas 鈥� as the company has enjoyed organic growth of 25% since a management-led buy-out in 1999.

Turnover has grown from 拢4.1 million in 2000 to 拢5.1 million in the financial year ending April 2001.

Speaking exclusively to SMT about the deal, Prima's managing director Nick Atkinson said: "Sharps is a traditional business with a sound client base spread across the private security, NHS and retail sectors. We want to extract more sales from that base."

Source

SMT