Birkett Long acts for the shareholders in the sale of 184 year old family business

Birkett Long advised on the sale of Kent Blaxill Holdings Limited - a long standing client of the firm - to PaintWell Limited, a Wirral-based paint distribution firm backed by private equity firm Cairngorm Capital Partners.

Kent Blaxill has been a family-owned business since it was established in Colchester in 1838 and has become extremely well known within the town and beyond. The business has expanded over the years and now has 22 branches across the East of England and the Midlands offering a range of decorating products from leading suppliers. Two of its larger sites also offer a full range of building products, such as timber, glass, ironmongery, tools, and landscaping supplies.

The sale enables the shareholders from the Kent and Blaxill families to exit the existing business. Their involvement will, however, continue: members of both families are re-investing in the enlarged PaintWell company, remaining important and supportive shareholders as it continues to build on their legacy.

Kent Blaxill's management team, led by managing director, James Park, will remain with the business. James Park said: "This partnership is exciting and I am confident it will deliver great things. I am looking forward to advancing the strategy and future direction of the group.”

The corporate and commercial finance team at Birkett Long advised shareholders on the due diligence and documentation required to ready the group for sale and acted for them throughout the transaction.

David Cant, a partner and director of business development at Birkett Long, who has overseen the business relationship with Kent Blaxill for nearly twenty years, commented: “Our firm has enjoyed a very long relationship with Kent Blaxill. Like them, we are proud of our Colchester roots. I know that my colleague, David Wisbey, and the team were delighted to assist the shareholders with the sale, and we wish the new and enlarged business all the best under its new ownership.”

In response, Simon Blaxill, former managing director and shareholder of Kent Blaxill said: “Our relationship with Birkett Long dates back over many years, covering many legal disciplines, and consequently we had every confidence they could handle this complex sale on behalf of our shareholders. David Wisbey and the Birkett Long team performed admirably throughout the transaction providing all the necessary advice and technical knowledge required to deliver a very successful outcome.”

Birkett Long is here for good. It’s not just about knowing the law. It’s also about the impact we have on businesses and our communities. Birkett Long has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester. It provides a wide range of legal and independent financial services for business including corporate and commercial advice, regulatory law, dispute resolution, education, insolvency, intellectual property and employment and for individuals: wills and conveyancing, family law, independent financial advice and dispute resolution.

For more information, visit www.birkettlong.co.uk or call 01206 217300.