Member Article

Major boost for Yorkshire agriculture as acquisition creates £110 million turnover firm

Yorkshire and the North East animal feed producers William Thompson (York) Ltd, Murton has been acquired in a major deal, creating a £110 million turnover business.

It has been bought by agricultural supplies business B.A.T.A. Malton for an undisclosed sum.

William Thompson Ltd. was founded as a family-run grocers shop almost 90 years ago and acquired by its five-strong management team in 2007. The William Thompson MBO team is remaining with the enlarged business.

A team at North Yorkshire accountants and business advisers JWPCreers, together with commercial lawyer, Philip Lewis Ogden, from Harrowells Solicitors, York, advised the management team at William Thompson (York) Ltd on the company’s sale to B.A.T.A.

The acquisition by B.A.T.A, Malton, which also has country stores and provides a range of agricultural fuels, is considered to be among the biggest corporate deals in North Yorkshire this year, creating a group with an annual turnover of more than £110 million.

William Thompson (York) Ltd managing director, Andrew Richardson, says: “The sale of our business to B.A.T.A. is good news for both companies, our current and future customers and, importantly, for the Yorkshire agriculture sector.

“The strength and depth of the group will provide even more specialist help and service to our customers businesses helping them navigate through the global challenges that face the agricultural sector.

JWPCreers corporate finance partner, Tony Farmer, said: “We have advised William Thompson (York) Ltd since the MBO as company auditors and through our agricultural department led by partner, Stephen Headley.

“They understood the advice given and the importance of good business practice and preparation. Given the complexity of this deal and the timescales worked to we feel we have played a major role in what has been a significant corporate transaction.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .