Forward Corporate Finance has shared its role advising an Essex-based supplier of roof tiles on its acquisition of a business which imports slate from Spain for roofing, sills and flooring.
The deal sees Primera Slate in Huntingdon join Halstead’s Lifestiles.
Forward acted as lead adviser to Lifestiles, assisting with deal negotiations, fundraising from Lloyds Bank for the acquisition, restructuring to form a group, and managing the process from initial conversations to completion.
Lifestiles was founded in 2004 by Dave Osborn and Mike Chillery, while its sister company Classic Brick – a handmade brick import and wholesale business – launched in 2021.
Primera Slate was set up in 2014 by Steve and Karen Harding, sourcing slate from Spanish quarries for use in property developments, conversions, new builds, self-builds, and roof replacements.
Dave Osborn, chief executive of Lifestiles, said: “Forward have been beside us all the way through this transaction, explaining how it works, raising the funding for us and managing the deal from start to finish.
“Rob, Amie and Ollie assisted us with the initial negotiations the fundraising and related due diligence on our business, the reorganisation to create a group and related tax advice, alongside managing our diligence on Primera and driving the deal through legals on to completion.”
Rob Dukelow-Smith, director at Forward Corporate Finance, added: “It has been a pleasure to work with Dave and Mike on the acquisition, and I’m sure that Steve and Karen’s business will flourish as part of the Lifestiles group.
“This is an exciting development for Lifestiles and will provide many opportunities for them, and their staff, which is great for the region.”
Funding for the deal was provided by Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, led by Stephane Claeys, with legal advice from Matt Downing at Holmes & Hills and tax advice from Zohra Bala at Tax Advisory Partnership.
The vendors were also advised by local firms through James Wilkinson at Keystone Law and Scott Pheby at Highway61.