Brabners Chaffe Street Solicitors - Corporate Services

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Brabners Chaffe Street motoring with major transaction role
18/02/2010

Leading North West law firm Brabners Chaffe Street has advised Nationwide Autocentres on its £73.2m sale to Halfords plc, cementing its position as one of the region`s most active corporate legal advisers.

Solihull based Nationwide Autocentres is the UK's largest independent car servicing and repair operator, with 224 outlets across the UK.

A 10-strong multi-practice team from Brabners Chaffe Street in Liverpool advised the company`s exiting shareholders, including private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners and its management team.

The role follows a successful year for the law firm`s corporate practice, which operates across Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. It collectively advised on 18 transactions in 2009, placing it amongst the region`s top five most active corporate practices (Source: Corpfin).

Last month, business magazines NW Insider and Crain's ranked Brabners Chaffe Street 1st and 2nd respectively based on the number of locally based corporate fee earners in its team.

Michael Brabner, Senior Partner at Brabners Chaffe Street, said: "We`ve supported the management team at Nationwide Autocentres since its incorporation in 2001 and throughout its impressive growth story. We`re delighted to have played such a central role and delivered on the timetable."

Andrew O`Mahony, the corporate Partner in Brabners Chaffe Street who led the team, said: "The fact the deal has been secured against such a challenging backdrop in the mergers and acquisitions market is testament to the quality of the business and the strength of the advisory teams supporting the deal. It also demonstrates our capability to advise on deals across the mid-market."

Nationwide Autocentres was formed in 2001 through the acquisition of 41 branches of Lex Autocentres, backed by NBGI Private Equity. In 2006, private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners joined forces with a management buy-in team to acquire the company in a £46m deal.

The team at Brabners Chaffe Street included Partners Andrew O`Mahony, Rupert Gill, Michael Brabner and Mark Glenville, Associate Caroline McEvoy and Solicitor Dewi Paddock.


For further information contact Andrew O'Mahony at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0151 600 3115

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