DLA Piper has advised Westland Horticulture on its pre-pack acquisition of William Sinclair, one of the leading horticultural firms in the UK, taking the latter out of administration.
 
The purchase will include William Sinclair's Ellesmere Port facility and additional manufacturing assets; Sinclair’s brands, J. Arthur Bowers, New Horizon, Growing Success and Deadfast, as well as Silverperl and professional growing media businesses.
 
Westland Horticulture is a Northern Ireland-based garden products supply business established in 1990. The acquisition supports company's strategic objective of expanding across the UK and will save 280 jobs at multiple locations in both England and Scotland.
 
John Jeffreys, DLA Piper Restructuring partner who led the team,  said: "Given the strategic importance of this project it was vital that our team - spanning five offices and four practice groups - worked quickly within a tight timeframe to ensure the best result for both parties. I am pleased at the outcome and wish Westland Horticulture well for the next stage of its journey."
 
The team, led by Birmingham Restructuring Partner John Jeffreys, comprised:

Employment: Nick Jew (Birmingham), Ellen Inglis (Birmingham), Kate Payne (Leeds), Will Thornton (Leeds)
Litigation & Regulatory (Competition): Alexandra Kamerling (London), Matthew Shaw (Sheffield)
Real Estate: Roger Collier (Birmingham), Stephen Dick (Edinburgh),
Restructuring: John Jeffreys, Tom Swain (Birmingham).