News and Press
TLT advises WHSmith on acquisition of stores from British Bookshops and Stationers

Announced to the market today, national law firm TLT has advised one of the UK's leading retail groups, WHSmith Plc, on its acquisition of 22 stores and intellectual property from British Bookshops and Stationers Ltd (in administration) for a total cash consideration of £1.05 million. No stock has been purchased.

British Bookshops and Stationers Ltd, a retailer of books, stationery, cards and newspapers with stores across the South of England, was one of the first retail casualties of 2011. The deal has secured the jobs of employees in the 22 stores.

The deal was led by partners Andrew Webber (corporate) and Perran Jervis (TLT's head of retail) and involved further specialists in corporate, employment and property across the firm's Bristol and London offices.

TLT's head of retail, Perran Jervis, says "We have a long-standing relationship with WHSmith and we're delighted to have been able to help them increase their store portfolio by moving quickly to assess and implement this deal, which was completed within a very challenging timescale."

TLT has a strong focus on the retail sector and advises some of the UK’s leading retailers, including The Co-operative Group and The Peacock Group, about issues such as supply chain management, UK and international franchising, procurement, outsourcing, branding and advertising as well as mergers and acquisitions, employment, property, trading standards, and compliance and competition issues.

The administrators, Zolfo Cooper, were advised by Mayer Brown.