Founded in 1962, Suttons supplies specialist protective packaging to the medical, electronics and industrial sectors across the UK. The business, which has manufacturing facilities in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, has consistently grown in recent years. It has a turnover of more than £7m and 55 employees.

Glasgow-headquartered packaging provider Macfarlane serves more than 20,000 customers across the UK and Europe. The business is growing rapidly via organic and acquisitive growth, and in 2022 acquired Germany-based protective packaging distributor PackMann.

The deal will support the future growth of both businesses by providing their customers with a broader range of protective packaging solutions. Suttons’ two directors, Simon Sutton and John Little, will both remain with the group following the acquisition.

An FRP Corporate Finance team, led by Ryan Symonds and including Dave Howes and Edward Jones, provided lead sell-side advisory services to Suttons.

Ryan Symonds, director at FRP corporate finance, said: “Suttons is a market leader in the protective packing industry, and has created a niche service offering which is highly complementary to Macfarlane’s growth strategy.

“The deal represents an exciting next stage for the business, and comes as Macfarlane continues to grow organically and through acquisitions.

“We are pleased to have represented the shareholders on their exit and congratulate Simon, John and the wider management team on building a successful business.”

Simon Sutton, managing director at Suttons, added: “This strategic transaction will provide significant opportunities for Suttons to continue to expand its teams and product portfolio. Suttons will now be part of a larger packaging group that continues to expand across the UK and Europe, so it’s a significant milestone for our teams.

“The close attention and meticulous guidance provided by FRP Corporate Finance was second to none. Their calm approach to the process not only eased the concerns of the shareholders but made the technical aspects of the transaction easy to understand.

“Professional throughout, Ryan, Dave and Edward were determined to deliver maximum shareholder value and dealt efficiently to resolve any issue which emerged.

“The shareholders of A E Sutton Ltd would not hesitate in recommending FRP Corporate Finance to any company or individual contemplating selling their business.”

Other advisors on the transaction included Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors (sell-side legal) and Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie (buy-side legal).