Squire Patton Boggs has advised sports nutrition specialist, Sport-ph, on the acquisition of Cheshire-based The Protein Works, the innovative sports nutrition brand.  This is the second acquisition for B&B Investment Partners-backed Sport-ph, following the acquisition of PhD Nutrition in November 2014. The acquisition supports Sport-ph’s strategy to create a pan-European sports nutrition group.

The Protein Works was founded in 2012 by Mark Coxhead, Karl Jacobie and Nick Smith, all of whom will become shareholders and board members of the newly extended company. After just two and a half years of trading, the business has grown dramatically to become the second largest online sports nutrition brand in the UK. It is the Official Bespoke Sports Nutrition Supplier to Everton Football Club.

The Squire Patton Boggs team acting for Sport-ph was led by Manchester Corporate partner Giles Chesher, assisted by Matthew Canipa and Michael Atherton, with tax advice provided by partner Patrick Ford.

“The sports nutrition and supplements market is dynamic and fast growing, worth in excess of £300 million in the UK alone,” said Giles Chesher. “The Protein Works has successfully developed a strong brand, built on the launch of innovative new product lines, and this transaction will support further growth opportunities across Europe.”