Portsmouth: Entrepreneur snaps up storage and logistics firm

Manchester law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has assisted serial entrepreneur Andy Scott in his second major transport company acquisition in the past six months.

Corporate partner Helen Wong MBE led the team and was assisted by Siobhan Birket providing Scott’s legal support on the 100% share purchase of Barnack Storage and Logistics in Orton Southgate, Peterborough.

All 80 jobs at the seven-acres site – which provides 180,000 sq ft of ambient and chilled warehousing serving both food and non-food sectors – will be retained as part of the purchase.

In November 2018 Scott bought nearby national haulage firm Bison Transport Group which owns and operates 50 trucks from two depots with a £12 million turnover.

“We are really pleased to add Barnack to our portfolio and are looking forward to combining the business with Bison which is just two miles down the road,” said Scott, who has also been named a Sunday Times 2019 Maserati Top 100 entrepreneur. “The Peterborough depots are turning over £1.25 million a month which is really exciting. After completion we met most of the staff and confirmed to them that all of their jobs are safe. We will also be looking to create additional jobs as the combined Barnack Bison business grows.”

Clarke Willmott’s Helen Wong MBE has acted for Scott on all of his 10 purchases over the past two years. 

“Helen is hugely impressive and her legal support helps us get deals done in two to three weeks where often companies can take 12-24 months to sell. She and her team have been fantastic throughout the process and I’m thrilled to be working with such a powerhouse of energy and talent.” Scott said.

Wong said she was delighted to play a part in the Scott’s continuing success in building a sizeable portfolio of complementary businesses. “When he spots an opportunity, Andy is able to move quickly and has an uncanny ability to turn around and maximise profitability in the target companies he acquires,” said Wong.

Scott recently secured a multi-million acquisition facility with his bankers Coutts to fund a further three to five purchases over the coming 12 months and is actively looking for other UK logistics businesses for acquisitions and other local 50-100,000 sq ft warehousing sites.

To discuss and suitable opportunities contact Helen Wong at Clarke Willmott: Helen.Wong@clarkewillmott.com.

Barnack has a modern fleet of MAN trucks and curtain side trailers and 18-tonners. The acquisition will take the combined firm’s to around 70 vehicles. The warehousing at Barnack has 15 loading bays and is operational 24-hours a day, in three shifts. It is currently running at 97 per cent occupancy.

Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with seven offices across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.