Sydney Mitchell advises Hiatt Hardware Group on purchase of luxury bathroom brand
The Corporate and Commercial team of Midlands law firm Sydney Mitchell has advised Hiatt Hardware Group on its strategic acquisition of Lakes Bathrooms and Lakes Showering Spaces, including cross border elements within the group structure.
The firm’s team acting for Hiatt was led by Roy Colaba, partner and head of the Birmingham-based Corporate and Commercial team, with support from Benazir Mir, Solicitor, who worked alongside Raj Mittal from FRP advisory, as the appointed buy-side advisors on the deal, which completed this month (May 2026).
Birmingham-based Hiatt Hardware is a leading distributor of DIY hardware products for the UK and European markets, known for its ‘fit and forget’ premium quality hardware merchandise, with an extensive customer base of well-known shed retailers, builders’ merchants and trade customers throughout the UK and Ireland.
Lakes is a leading manufacturer and supplier of shower enclosures, doors and bath screens. Designing, engineering and manufacturing showering spaces since 1986, with a reputation as an innovative brand in the UK’s bathrooms sector, Lakes is recognised for its premium showering products and excellent quality, design, service and innovation.
The Lakes acquisition gives Hiatt Hardware an opportunity to leverage existing relationships, tap into specialist customers, and grow its expansive product range into bathroom, brassware, plumbing and heating products.
This is the latest in a number of complex corporate deals advised on and completed by Sydney Mitchell already this year. With a reputation for supplying innovative legal solutions for businesses of every size and in a variety of sectors including hospitality, leisure and retail, the Corporate and Commercial team provides a complete range of advice and solutions from mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, joint ventures, to group reorganisations and commercial transactions, for businesses.
Commenting on the deal, Sydney Mitchell’s Roy Colaba, says: “The acquisition represents a transformational step for the Hiatt Hardware group. It provides Hiatt with significant competitive advantage through its now fully owned manufacturing capability, positioning the business to fully maximise operational throughput and optimised supply chain control, mirroring the successful structure already proven and in place within the Hiatt Hardware Group model.
“This was a complex deal, and now complete, reinforces the Hiatt Group’s long-term vision of building a stronger, more diversified construction and home improvement supplies business with market-leading exceptional brands and a unique customer value proposition.”
Following the acquisition. Hiatt Hardware Group plans to create 200 jobs in the UK alone, reflecting its continued commitment to growth, investment, and people strategy.
Jon Roden, Rob Parker and Daniel Timms acted as joint administrators from Grant Thornton Advisory& Tax LLP appointed for Lakes Bathrooms Ltd, with Oliver-Ward Jones from TLT as sell side lawyers.
Jon Roden commented: “There were several interested parties in this competitive process. We are delighted to sell Lakes’ business and trading assets to a trade buyer who understands the British Home Improvements and construction supplies market quite well. We would like to thank Ankesh and the team for working with us so quickly in saving more than 120 jobs across the Lakes Group.”
