Trowers & Hamlins has advised Otter Nurseries on the acquisition of Whitchurch Garden Centre, near Bristol.
Established in 1964, Otter Garden Centres is a leading family run garden centre group. Otter Garden Centres prides itself on offering a down-to-earth experience that’s all about finding the perfect products, getting helpful advice, and finding inspiration to create stunning living environments.
The acquisition of Whitchurch Garden Centre extends Otter's group to eight garden centres throughout the South West. Whitchurch was previously one of three garden centres in the Whitehall Garden Centre business, founded by the Self family in 1970. It is now a fourth generation family-run operation, sharing many family-run values with Otter.
Commenting on the announcement, Stuart Mathews, Head of Exeter, said:
"We are thrilled to have supported Jacqui Taylor, Robert Brown and the team at Otter Nurseries on this important acquisition. We are privileged to represent Otter Garden Centres, a long-established family business to deliver an acquisition that will secure the long-term future of another multi-generation family business in Whitchurch Garden Centre."
Jacqui Taylor, Managing Director of Otter Garden Centres said:
"We have known the Self family for many years now and have always admired their way of running an independent family business. What really appealed to us was how closely their ethos aligns with our own: family-run, customer-focussed and with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability.
"We are looking forward to building strong relationships with the local community and the many existing loyal customers.
"Trowers provided us with clear commercial advice in all areas of this complex deal. The speed with which the whole team could move was key to achieving this acquisition within the required timescale. Trowers made us feel that we were important to them, and we felt very well supported throughout the purchase."
Corporate Partner, Stuart Mathews, led the Trowers team, comprising lawyers from multiple specialisms including Corporate (Jon Holloway, Luke Cummings and Hannah Dymond), Real Estate (Nicola Janus-Harris and Julia Moon), and Employment (John Turnbull and Steph Taylor). The deal completed with financial and taxation advice from Isobel Savage and James Fisher of Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants.
