Gerald Edelman advises AB Key, which is acquired by Astra Holding Group

Gerald Edelman is delighted to announce that its Corporate Finance Team has successfully advised AB Key LLP (‘AB Key’) on the transaction with Astra Holding Group Ltd (‘Astra’). This deal makes another in the facilities management and built environment sector completed by the team.

AB Key, a specialist provider of maintenance services across London and the Southeast, brings deep expertise across multiple service lines, including but not limited to access control, door entry systems, glazing, CCTV, alarms and automated gates.

For many years, AB Key has supported estates, property managers and developers with the maintenance, repair and installation of key systems and security infrastructure. This partnership marks an important milestone in Astra’s strategy to build a diversified portfolio of profitable UK SMEs that provide essential services to the built environment.

Founded by Rob Douglas and developed over several decades, AB Key has built a strong reputation for responsiveness, technical expertise and reliable delivery. The company works across a large base of multi-occupancy and estate-style properties, combining project work with ongoing maintenance and remedial services. Its long-standing relationships with leading property management companies reflect the quality of its work and the trust it has earned on complex and sensitive sites.

Astra specialises in partnering with and supporting growth of UK based industrial and service businesses. Many of these companies, like AB Key, have been built over decades and play a critical role in keeping buildings safe, compliant and operational. Astra’s approach is to support the growth of these businesses through investments and innovation, while preserving their identity and culture.

Under the new partnership, Astra will work closely with Rob Douglas, Jennifer Fuller and the entire AB Key team to guide strategy, support customer relationships and help drive the next stage of growth.

Robert Douglas, Founder of AB Key, commented:

“AB Key started as a one-man locksmith service and has grown into a business I am incredibly proud of. As we look ahead, it was crucial to find a partner like Astra who understood not just our financial performance, but the relationships and reputation that sit behind it.

They recognised the strength of our team, the loyalty of our customers and the importance of keeping AB Key’s name and values intact. I am confident Astra will give us the support we need to keep growing, investing in our people and capabilities while staying true to what has made AB Key successful for the last 30 years.

I couldn’t recommend the team at Gerald Edelman highly enough. We set clear objectives at the start of the process, and the deal they helped deliver surpassed our expectations. They ran an efficient process and provided tremendous support throughout the transaction. We’re incredibly pleased with the outcome and are very grateful to the whole team at Gerald Edelman.”

Jack Abrahams, Manager at Gerald Edelman, added:

“We’re delighted to have advised on this transaction for AB Key. It has been a real pleasure working closely with the team, and we’re thrilled to have helped deliver an outcome that enabled the partners to achieve their objectives.

This deal marks another successful completion for our Corporate Finance team in the built environment and facilities management sector, and further reinforces our position as one of the UK’s leading lower mid-market M&A advisers.

We wish both AB Key and Astra every success for the future!”