Acuity Law Advises Sinclair Group In Acquisition In Latest String Of Major Deals

Acuity Law was selected to act for motor retailer Sinclair Group in its recent major acquisition, the latest in a string of large-scale deals for the leading commercial law firm.

Acuity Law advised on the purchase of Shukers from the Rubery Owen Group, expanding the Sinclair Group’s Welsh territory up to Aberystwyth in mid-Wales where it will take over the Land Rover operation and also represent Hyundai for the first time. The company will also cross into England for the first time with ownership of the Land Rover retailer in Ludlow.

Beverley Jones, Partner at Acuity Law, said: “We’re delighted to have supported Sinclair Group once again on this major acquisition which provides such an exciting opportunity for its future. We look forward to seeing these dealerships go from strength to strength under Sinclair Group’s ownership.”

Andy Sinclair, Sinclair Group Managing Director, said: “Like us, Shukers is a well-established, family business and we share a similar culture and the same core values, focus, and passion for providing outstanding customer service so this is a great fit for us.

“The Jaguar Land Rover brand is extremely strong in the UK and is already an important part of our group. The addition of two very successful Land Rover sites will significantly increase our territory for the brand and will double the points of representation we have following our takeover of retailers in Swansea and Brecon since 2018.”

He added: “The opportunity to represent Hyundai for the first time is equally exciting, especially with its reputation for being so progressive on the electric vehicle front.  The Hyundai product line-up is expanding rapidly so it’s a brilliant time to be involved with the brand as it will enable us to offer something very different to our current portfolio and presents our customers with even more choice.”

Established in 1999, the Acuity team has grown to more than 100 exceptional and instinctively commercial lawyers working throughout the UK, including 25 consultants shaping the business’ growing consultant community. The firm has offices in Cardiff, Swansea, London, and most recently, Bristol.

For further information about these deals, and how our award-winning Corporate team can help you and your business, contact our Corporate Team today.

Key Contact: Tessa Laws

Acuity’s award-winning Corporate M&A Team have had yet another busy year, advising a number of clients on a wide range of often complex and high-value deals. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Acuity supports Digital Radish on the sale of its business to Selbey Anderson

Acuity advised Digital Radish, a brand and ABM agency for high-growth B2B businesses, on the acquisition of the business by Selbey Anderson, the UK’s fast-growing independent marketing group. Aided by Yannick Ramsamy in Acuity’s employment team, this deal was Acuity’s 12^th M&A in the past year.

Acuity completes two cross border transactions for Finn Partners

Acuity completed two cross border acquisitions for the US based Finn Partners, the independent and fast-growing agency group ‘with a heart and a conscience’ headed by the charming and modest Peter Finn, one business focused on healthcare (expanding the F&P offering here) and the other in digital marketing.

Acuity advises owners of Chameleon on the sale of its business to MikeWorldWide

Acuity advised the owners of The Reptile Group Limited, trading as Chameleon, an award-winning European technology Public Relations consultancy, on the sale of the business to MikeWorldWide (formerly MWWPR), one of the world’s leading independent public relations firms. Chameleon’s technology & B2B communications experience adds further depth to MikeWorldWide’s UK presence, creating one of the UK’s largest technology firms. The combined entity creates one of the top five B2B and top fifteen technology firms in the UK, with a team of almost 30 PR, content, and digital professionals.

Acuity advises PLMR on the acquisition of Advent Communications

Acuity advised PLMR, one of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing multi award-winning political lobbying and media agencies, on the acquisition of Midlands-based Advent Communications, a well-established public relations and media services consultancy based in the Midlands, and the acquisition of East Anglia-based PR and digital marketing agency Genesis. The two acquisitions, which both completed in the space of a month, are part of a strategic growth plan that focuses on growing PLMR’s regional network and expanding and deepening the range of skills the company offers to clients.

Acuity advises the owners of Omnifi on its sale to The Access Group

Acuity advised Omnifi, whose Orderbee Mobile Order and Pay technology gives hospitality operators the technology to drive efficiency, on the sale of the business to The Access Group, a leading provider of business management software and solutions. The acquisition will allow Access to add Orderbee to its hospitality software suite, allowing their clients to maximise profits, drive efficiencies and reduce administration time.

Acuity acts for the owners of TopLine on its acquisition by Definition Agency

We acted for TopLine Film, one of the UK’s top independent video production companies, on the acquisition of the business by Definition Agency, a multi-award winning reputation management agency group with ‘an ambitious growth strategy’. The deal continues Definition’s recent spate of acquisitions, which include the acquisition of our client Redhouse Communications in November 2020, and enhances the group’s ability to drive brand creation, recognition, engagement and growth for clients, through seamlessly integrated internal and external communications.

Acuity advises Karian and Box during its acquisition by Ipsos

Acuity advised Karian and Box, the UK’s leading specialist in employee research and experience, on the acquisition of the business by Ipsos, the global market Research and public opinion specialist. Ipsos is developing its Employee Relationship Management capabilities and this deal will help build on 15 years of growth, allowing them to become an even stronger employee research and advisory partner for their clients.

Acuity advises owners of Larsen Walsh on its sale to Gravity Global Ltd.

Acuity advised the owners of Larsen Walsh Consultants, a global strategic marketing agency based in London, on the sales of the business to Gravity Global Ltd, an award-winning specialist B2B marketing agency network.

Under the guidance of Partners Tessa Laws, Phil Pugh, James Hardy and Simon Wilson, our busy Corporate M&A London Team continue to support clients across a wide range of complex and high-value transactions regionally, nationally, and internationally. This significant growth and development of our expansive client base further enables us to increase the variety and size of the transactions we work on.

The team is further strengthened with the expertise of Associate Chiara Howfield, Trainee Solicitor Benedetta Cocconi and Paralegal Daniel Onafuwa.

For further information about these deals, and how our award-winning Ganton Street based London Corporate team can help you and your business, contact Tessa Laws or a member of our Corporate Team today.

Acuity advises Premier Forest Group on the sale of its Irish subsidiary

Key Contacts: Rachelle Sellek & Tom Saunderson

Acuity is delighted to have acted as lead legal advisers to Premier Forest Group on the disposal of its Irish subsidiary, Premier Forest ROI Limited; the eight-site subsidiary comprising Brooks Timber and Building Supplies and Dublin Plywood and Veneer (DPV).

The sale, for a significant but undisclosed sum, to Northern Ireland headquartered Murdock Builders Merchants, is subject to the approval of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and covers the trading assets, goodwill and freehold properties. The referral process is anticipated to take up to 30 working days and, subject to final approval from the CCPC, completion of the deal is likely to occur at the end of July 2021.

Premier Forest Group acquired Brooks in 2012 and DPV in 2013, helping to rebuild both iconic Irish timber companies following the difficult post-credit crunch period in Ireland, leading to nine years of back-to-back growth in profit and turnover.

Terry Edgell, CEO and co-founder of Premier Forest Group said: “Over the past 12 months we have had various approaches about the possibility of selling our Irish subsidiaries and after careful consideration we felt that the time was right to hand the reins to an Irish company to steer them through their next phase of growth.

“This is a positive step for the Premier Forest Group, one which allows us to consolidate our position by giving us significant resource to reinvest in our staff and our business and drive growth in the UK through investment and further acquisitions.

“After excellent results for our 2020/21 financial year, we believe that there is a real opportunity here to push on and we are looking forward to putting a renewed focus into our UK business. Our forecasts are strong and we believe that we are looking at another positive increase in turnover for 2021/22.

“We would like to thank our Irish management team and every member of staff in Ireland for all their hard work over the past nine years and wish them success for the future.”

Announcing the transaction, Ciaran Murdock of Murdocks, said: “We are delighted to be announcing the acquisition of Brooks Group – a business we have always held in high regard. Since establishing Murdock Builders Merchants in 1982, we have gradually built the Murdocks business by opening new branches along with some single site acquisitions. Today’s announcement marks an important strategic move in significantly broadening our footprint in the Republic, through the Brooks business. We believe that this provides us with a great platform for further expansion in Ireland.

“It is also notable that Brooks, which was originally established in 1750 and has a long and storied heritage in timber provision and merchandising in Ireland, returns to Irish ownership for the first time since 1982. We very much look forward to working with our new colleagues and the Brooks management team, who have done such a good job in growing the business over the past number of years.”

Gambit Corporate Finance LLP acted as lead advisor to the shareholders and were responsible for initiating, negotiating and structuring the transaction, which involved a strategic capital demerger to clearly separate its Irish and UK operations. The Gambit team was led by Geraint Rowe (Partner), Simon Marsden (Director), Sam Forman (Associate Director) and Michael Dunn (Executive).

Geraint Rowe, Partner at Gambit, commented: “We are delighted to have advised Terry, Nigel and Dilwyn, who, over the past nine years have returned Brooks Group to a position of dominance in the Irish market. The Premier Forest Group shareholders and Brooks Group management team have achieved significant successes together, showing adaptability and resilience in navigating a dynamic RMI market during times of economic uncertainty. This transaction provides Murdocks with a substantial platform for future expansion in Ireland and allows the Brooks Group to continue its strategic development and embark on its next phase of growth.”

Acuity Law were lead lawyers for the sellers on the transaction. The Acuity team was led by Rachelle Sellek (Partner) and Tom Saunderson (Senior Associate) and supported by Flynn O’Driscoll on Irish law matters. Rachelle Sellek, Partner, said “Premier Forest Group has been a long-standing client of Acuity’s and we are delighted to have advised the shareholders on the sale of their Irish business. We believe that this transaction, in the middle of a global pandemic, is a fantastic achievement and we wish the Brooks and Premier Forest groups every success for the future.”

Established in 1993, Premier Forest Group has increased turnover by £31M to £170M over the past 12 months, in spite of constraints imposed by nationwide lockdowns, operating restrictions at their sites in UK and Ireland and significant supply chain disruption.

Premier Forest Group continues to trade from its eight strategic sites in England and Wales as a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, sawmilling, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products.

Acuity advises Owens Group on the acquisition of Celtic Couriers

Key Contact: Phil Pugh

Acuity Law is delighted to have advised Owens Group, the UK’s leading transport and warehousing company, on their acquisition of Celtic Couriers, a reputable family-run business that operates the APC parcel network and Fortec pallet network in South-West Wales. 

Owens Group has achieved exceptional growth in recent years, both organically and through acquisitions – Acuity having advised on their acquisition of BTS Haulage in 2018. The acquisition of Celtic Couriers complements Owens’ ambitious growth plans, increasing and expanding their existing express delivery and pallet network services throughout the UK. 

Phil Pugh, Corporate Partner at Acuity Law, said: “Owens Group is a fantastic client and we are very pleased to see its continued growth. The Celtic Couriers business is a great complement to the existing business and we enjoyed working with the team on another successful acquisition.”

Corporate Partner Phil Pugh and Senior Associate Tom Saunderson led the transaction, with cross-departmental support from Ben Honour, Emma Hutchings, Daniel Evans, Chris Doherty and Ffion Morgan.