Member Article

hlw Keeble Hawson acts in hat trick of disposals

hlw Keeble Hawson has acted in the simultaneous sale of three independent businesses, including Sheffield based paint distributor Sinemaster Motor Factors, to $5 billion turnover US vehicle-repair giant LKQ Corporation.

Roger Dyson and Chris Wilson led a team from the corporate department of hlw Keeble Hawson, one of Yorkshire’s biggest law firms with offices in Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster, who acted for the shareholders of Sinemaster, JCA Coatings in Reading and Milton Keynes Paint & Equipment in the sales to LKQ.

NASDAQ quoted LKQ Corporation, which operates more than 500 facilities in the UK and globally, confirmed that the acquisitions - which also include Bee Bee Refinishing Supplies and Premier Paints - fuel its goal to be the leading one-stop shop supplier to the UK market’s collision repair industry.

Sinemaster began trading from a head office site in Sheffield, in 1972, selling number plates and replacement panels. The company became distributors for Berger paints in 1977 and has grown to become a multi-sited operation providing a comprehensive service to customers.

It has grown by both acquisition and organic growth, acquiring branches in Loughborough, Leeds, Widnes, Newcastle, Birmingham and Accrington and covers the North and Midlands, from North Wales across to Hull and Newcastle down to the Birmingham.

Mark Leeming, Sinemaster shareholder and director, said: “hlw Keeble Hawson, who has previously represented us in deals, effectively and efficiently managed three transactions at the same time. This was a complex deal to create the UK’s market leading distribution group for auto refinish and transport paint, bodyshop consumables, tools, equipment and training services.”

Roger Dyson, head of corporate law at hlw Keeble Hawson said: “We are delighted to have represented the sellers in this substantial transaction, which gave us the opportunity to handle simultaneously a number of complex and interlinked transactions.”

London-based Olswang LLP acted for LKQ Corporation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .