Law firm helps with fantastic plastic deal

Mar 19 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A NEWCASTLE-BASED law firm helped progress the management buy-out of a leading Yorkshire plastic firm.

Watson Burton advised Birkby’s Plastics, one of the main players in the European plastics moulding industry, during the buy-out

Birkby’s Plastics employs 400 people in Liversedge, West Yorkshire, and has a technology centre in Detroit. It was bought for an undisclosed sum.

As a UK market leader in the automotive industry, manufacturing and supplying injection moulded components, it has a turnover of more than £40m.

Watson Burton acted for the buyer and the management team. Corporate finance partners Martin Smith and Lester Wilson led the legal team that included Robert O’Donovan (pensions), Matthew Dalzell (property) and Zoe Thomas (employment).

Martin Smith said: “We have been delighted to work with Ian and the management team and to successfully assist in the completion of the buy-in, buy-out of Birkby’s.

“Birkby’s is an excellent North of England business which will undoubtedly move forward and strengthen its position as a UK leader in the plastic moulding industry.”