16 February 2005

Essex based solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon have helped a Global company to make a UK acquisition. They have advised a UK group member of Global aluminium foils and cling film manufacturer SP Metal SA on the acquisition of the Wraps division of Chilwood Ltd., based in Wigan, Lancashire. Chilwood is a highly respected and established manufacturing company. The acquisition marks the expansion of the SP Metal SA group's business in the UK.

Thompson Smith & Puxon, a fourteen partner firm with offices in Colchester and Clacton, provided commercial, property and employment advice for the deal. The legal team assisted the new owners of the Wraps business to simultaneously complete contracts on a new manufacturing site and manage the transfer of 105 employees to the new company.

"This was a complex series of business transactions and the legal team from Thompson Smith & Puxon had a key role. Their team of commercial law, property and employment experts together covered all aspects of the deal for us and brought it to a successful close, with all sides completed together", said John Persenda, Chief Executive of SP Metal SA.

SP Metal SA, established for over thirty years, owns a large number of brand name consumer products across Europe.

The team of six from Thompson Smith & Puxon (TS&P) who worked on the transactions for SP Metal was led by Mary Anne Fedeyko, Partner and Head of the firm’s Commercial Law team. Others were Richard Porter, Partner and Head of TS&P's Employment Law team, Julia Wilson, a Property Partner and Graham Wilson, Partner and Head of Property.

Mary Anne Fedeyko worked for eminent London law firm Freshfields before moving to Colchester in 1992. With a background in special finance, Mary Anne has exceptional technical expertise in large industry acquisitions and contracts.