Formed in 1998 and based in Malvern, Worcestershire, Westbridge is a leading international supplier of poultry and other food products to major retailers and food service companies in the UK and Europe.
The Business focuses on product innovation, competitive purchasing, technical security, traceability and production safety, together with quota management and logistics expertise.
The shareholders were approached by Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), a long standing and trusted supplier, to acquire a majority position in mid-2016.
The shareholders engaged us to act as lead advisors on the sale of the group, supporting in information collation, market benchmarking and pricing, negotiations and project management. We ran an effective process, including the preparation of a sales document, managing the due diligence process and advising on the legal documents through to completion. Despite the complexities involved in cross-border transactions of this scale and nature, a final deal was agreed with Charoen Pokphand Foods which gives a great result to all parties involved.
We provided lead advisory and tax advisory services, enabling a seamless and joined up process for all parties throughout. Having developed a long-standing relationship with the shareholders of Westbridge, also advising on the sale of its non-core subsidiary Bri-Tal Foods Limited in May 2015, we had built a strong understanding of the business and were able to use this knowledge to effectively support in delivering an attractive valuation for the client.
“The Grant Thornton team played an invaluable role in facilitating what was a complex transaction spanning multiple geographic areas. The combination of their knowledge of the food sector along with a long term relationship with the management team and an in depth knowledge of the Westbridge business, enabled the process to flow smoothly delivering a good result for all parties involved.”
Jim Middleton Managing Director, Westbridge Food Group Limited
