Recent corporate deals

In 2023, we advised H R Jasper & Sons (Holdings) Limited on the sale of the H R Jasper & Son Limited to Dunbia, the UK division of Irish headquartered multi-national group Dawn Meats.

In 2023, we advised the shareholders of Push Gaming Holding plc, a global game developer, on its majority sale to the LeoVegas Group. Find out more here.

In 2023, Foot Anstey advised the management team at ERS Transition, trading as ERS Medical, on its acquisition by Surrey-based E-zec Medical Transport Services, which is a portfolio company of Cairngorm Capital.

The merger of these two providers of non-emergency patient transport businesses means that the combined group now has more than 2,500 employees and a turnover of £100M. The new entity will serve more than 50 commissioning bodies from 55 operational sites located across the country.

In 2023, the Private Wealth sector team at Foot Anstey LLP advised The Fry Group on the company’s sale to Progeny, the UK-based independent financial planning, asset management, tax, HR and private and corporate legal services firm.

In 2022, Foot Anstey LLP supported and advised the management team of GW Global Insights (GWGI) on a Management Buy-Out (MBO) of its Gasworld brand backed by Mobeus.

The Gasworld brand was founded in 2003 and has been regarded as the go-to platform for the industrial gases industry and has established a global client base for its publications, worldwide events and business intelligence products.

In 2022, Foot Anstey LLP’s Corporate team (led by Duncan Sykes, Partner, and supported by James Crotty, Associate) has acted on the sale of Newton Abbot-based M.J. Baker Foodservice Ltd to Kitwave Group Limited, in a deal worth £24.5m.

Since its inception in 1999, M.J. Baker has provided over 3,500 products across the ambient, chilled and frozen foods, alcohol, confectionary and non-food categories.

Duncan Sykes, Partner at Foot Anstey commented: “M.J. Baker is a well-established brand in the South West and has an exceptional reputation for customer service. We have acted for the business from the date of its formation and were therefore delighted to act on the sale of M.J. Baker”.

In 2022, Foot Anstey LLP facilitated an investment from Connection Capital to support a management buyout of Silverfish UK, the Cornwall-headquartered mountain bike supplier.

The Corporate team at Foot Anstey included Ken Lewins, Partner and Fergus Baker, Senior Associate who advised on and delivered expert legal advice to  Silverfish UK throughout the process. The advice also included input from the Tax, Trusts, Banking, Real Estate and Employment teams.

Since its inception in 1999, Silverfish UK has created a space in the distribution market focusing on premium products. The bike supplier now operates in the UK, Ireland and a number of European territories. Its portfolio includes names such as Yeti Cycles, FOX, Michelin, Race Face, SDG, Knog, Marzocchi, CushCore, Peaty’s, Ride Concepts and Skratch Labs.

The investment from Connection Capital will enable the Silverfish team to enhance its growth and facilitate investment into customer support infrastructure, whilst it carries out its European expansion.

In 2022, Foot Anstey advised Quilam Capital in connection with a Management Buy-Out (MBO) of Perch Group, a Blackpool-headquartered specialist credit and asset management company which provides creditors with a range of technology driven services.

The MBO will see the incumbent management team comprising Craig Hinchliffe, Andrew Bartle, Gary Edwards, Max Houghton and Simon Unsworth work take control of the financial services company together with Quilam Capital.

The Foot Anstey team included Matthew Stoate (Partner), Dominic Cromwell (Senior Associate) and Bethany Donnelly (Associate).

In 2022, Foot Anstey advised Avieco, the London-based sustainability consultancy, on its sale to Accenture.

Founded in 2007, Avieco specialises in sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) services. Avieco’s expertise will help Accenture meet the growing demand from its clients for transformation, transparency and accountability in the area of sustainability.

The Foot Anstey team included Matt Stoate (Partner), Adam McKenna (Partner), Emma Clayton (Senior Associate) and Eloise May (Senior Legal Assistant) who advised the sellers on the sale of their shares in Avieco to Accenture.

In 2022, National Law firm Foot Anstey LLP advised the shareholders of Naturesave Policies Ltd, the UK’s leading green and ethical insurance provider, on its sale to Lloyd & Whyte Ltd, the Taunton-based financial planning and specialist insurance service company.

Founded 28 years ago, Naturesave Policies has won awards for its top ethical rating insurance by the Good Shopping Guide and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable development.

In 1995, Naturesave Policies created the Naturesave Trust, its own registered charity. Naturesave Insurance has donated over £1 million to the Trust. These donations are used to primarily to fund grants for environmental projects.

In 2021, the team advised the founders of Plymouth’s The iOutlet tech refurbishment firm on selling the business to its management team. James Green Ltd, which trades as The iOutlet, was successfully sold by Directors Matt Green and Liam James to Lewis Cox, Ollie Green, Greg Jones and Russell Jones in a management buyout.

In 2021, we advised private equity firm Hurst Point Group on fully acquiring Hawksmoor Group, completing the transaction on 1 March 2021. Investment management firm Hawksmoor will become a separate subsidiary of Hurst Point. Find out more here.

In 2021, we advised Immersa, the energy storage solution company, on the sale of two 50 Megawatt (MW) battery storage projects. Foot Anstey supported on the disposal of Sandridge Battery Storage Limited to Foresight and JLEN Environmental Assets Group joint venture and Berkeley Battery Storage 2 Limited, that was purchased by the SMS group.

In 2023, we advised FSE Group in connection with the closing of two investment funds, which will form part of the South West Investment Fund (SWIF). Find out more here.

In 2023, we advised Elmya Energy, a Spanish renewable energy developer, on a significant joint venture with Renewable Power Capital.

In 2023, we advised the management and premium schools group Thomas’s on its strategic partnership with Oakley Capital, a specialist investor in the education sector. Find out more here.

In 2023, we advised Quilam Capital, which provides financial solutions coupled with expert guidance to businesses operating in the speciality finance market, in connection with its £20m Tier 2 capital investment into Tandem Bank. 

In 2023, National law firm Foot Anstey LLP advised Quilam Capital, which provides financial solutions coupled with expert guidance to businesses operating in the speciality finance market, on the equity aspects of its investments in Raylo and Merchant Money.

Established in 2017, Quilam Capital supports its portfolio in accelerating business growth, accessing external funding and refining strategic direction through dedicated senior support and bespoke capital solutions.

In 2022, Foot Anstey LLP, with offices across the South West, supported Devon-headquartered sustainable female underwear brand, Stripe & Stare, with practical legal advice to secure a £2.5m investment from BGF.

Partner, Ken Lewins, Associate, Kieran Van Bussel and Legal Assistant Eloise May led on legal advice from Foot Anstey to the sustainable fashion brand. This included drafting contracts and working in conjunction with all parties to deliver the desired outcome for Stripe & Stare.

Stripe & Stare’s mission has been to create the most comfortable and eco-friendly underwear, lounge and sleepwear in the world, made from beechwood trees, since it was founded in 2017 by Katie Lopes and Nicola Piercy. Over the last three years the business has seen revenue grow by more than 100 per cent. Stripe & Stare knickers are 95% biodegradable and in 2021 it released a world first 100% biodegradable lace underwear collection, which  can be put in compost rather than landfill.

BGF has provided £1.5m of the growth capital to the Devon-based brand with the remaining investment coming from a number of private investors including  Richard Longhurst, co-founder of Bath-based Lovehoney, and Sam Galsworthy of Sipsmith Gin.

The investment will be used to scale the business by increasing employment and production capacity at its Yelverton headquarters to help drive UK and international sales.

In 2022, Foot Anstey supported L Catterton Europe, a leading global consumer-focused private equity firm, on the legal due diligence for its acquisition of a significant minority shareholding in Little Moons, a premium dessert company co-founded by sibling team Howard and Vivien Wong. The company, which has enjoyed steep organic growth since its incorporation in 2010, received an undisclosed investment sum.

In 2022, we advised Stanley Capital Partners (SCP) on its investment in a majority stake in French pharmaceutical group Laboratoire XO (Lab XO). Debt was provided by US lending giant Ares Management.

In 2021, Bristol-based cell and gene therapy (CGT) services company, eXmoor Phrama, secured an initial investment of £12m from specialist healthcare investment firm MVM Partners to support its growth plans. The investment will be used to create a new dedicated 50,000 sq ft CGT process development and clinical manufacturing facility in Bristol. The facility will be designed in-house by eXmoor’s capital projects team.

In 2021, we advised on a follow on debt injection by BGF Investments LP into TIGL Holdings Limited. Find out more here.

In 2021, the team advised UCMG Holdings Limited on a capital reduction demerger.

In 2021, the team advised on a capital reduction demerger of Lily-Flame Ltd.

In 2021, the team advised on a capital reduction demerger of UCMG Holdings Limited.