Fleet Promotional Packaging (FPP), based in Snodland, which lists Ben Sherman, Reiss, Mulberry, Agent Provocateur and Karen Millen among its clients, acquired Swanley-based Thomas Norman (UK) Limited in a deal overseen by Vertex Law.

The move increases FPP’s hold on the high-end retail bags, boxes and cards market by adding Thomas Norman’s areas of expertise – predominantly paper bags – into its offering.

“Our Corporate, Banking and Property teams were delighted to assist Fleet Promotional Packaging with this all-Kent deal,” said Katie Gotterson of the Kings Hill corporate and commercial law firm.

“This acquisition further strengthens FPP’s position in the UK packaging industry, a move which is undoubtedly great news for Kent and the local economy.”

Mark Lowry, Managing Director of Fleet Promotional Packaging, said: “The acquisition of the Thomas Norman business adds additional expertise to our business offering and will enable us to offer a wider range of services to customers.

“Our client list includes established, big-name high street retailers as well as independent boutique retailers across the UK. This deal will help us provide more high-end promotional packaging products and reach a larger market.

“We would like to thank everyone at Vertex Law for their work in completing the acquisition and look forward to utilising their expertise in the future as we further expand the business through acquisition and natural growth.”

Kingcott Cheese’s Kentish Bluebell, handmade by Steve and Karen Reynolds on their family-run farm near Staplehurst, scooped the title of Kent Food Product of the Year (Retail).

Other big winners included The Marquis at Alkham, which claimed the Best Kent Restaurant title and Ramsgate Brewery, which picked up the Best Kent Beer award for their Gadd’s No 3 ale.

The 13 category winners were named at the Awards Dinner held at Oakwood House Hotel, Maidstone, on Friday, March 2.

Kate Mayor, Commercial Lawyer at Vertex Law, said: “We were thrilled to sponsor the Taste of Kent Awards, which celebrate the county’s wide range of exceptional food and drink producers and retailers.

“During the award ceremony we picked up on the support and camaraderie between all the nominees, who share the same passion and commitment to Kent produce and the county’s food and drink industry.

"With an ever increasing population and the need to produce more for less, the food industry faces a challenging time, but also an opportunity and Kent it seems is ahead of the game."

For a full list of the 2012 Taste of Kent Award winners visit www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk

Basil UK Limited, a subsidiary of India-based Basil Communications Private Ltd, which trades as Basil Global, acquired the business and assets of Four Ninety Limited to increase its photography, design and artwork services.

The Four Ninety business, which has offices in Leeds and Milton Keynes, produces large-scale catalogues for clients including Argos, Homebase and Avon Cosmetics. It now forms part of London-based Basil UK.

The deal further enhances Basil Global’s extensive creative services offering, which covers print needs such as illustration, packaging and images, online assistance with websites, banners and e-books, and motion work such as presentations and animated storyboards.

“This complex deal covered many specialist legal disciplines, requiring input from our Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate and Technology & Media teams,” said Salim Somjee of the Kings Hill corporate and commercial law firm.

Vertex Law’s Nick Austen, who was also heavily involved with the deal, added: “I am delighted that we were able to assist with the acquisition, which sees Basil Global reinforce its position in the global creative industries sector. We thoroughly enjoyed working on securing another international deal and fostering new relationships with Indian businesses and financiers.”

Ramesh Krishnamurthy, Managing Director of Basil UK, said: “The acquisition of the Four Ninety business adds additional expertise to our offering and will enable us to provide a wider range of services to our clients.

“We appreciate all the work Nick, Salim and the rest of the team at Vertex Law carried out on ensuring this deal was completed and will not hesitate to work with them again on any future projects.”

The 30-year-old, from Tunbridge Wells, joins the Kings Hill-based firm’s commercial team, which manages clients’ day-to-day business needs.

David, who qualified as a solicitor in 2008, said: “I am very excited to be working for Vertex Law and delighted to be joining the corporate commercial department. Vertex is the only company in the South East that I wanted to join.

“It has a fantastic reputation and a broad range of clients that I wanted to work for, as well as a highly-regarded team of lawyers that I wanted to work with.”

Irfan Baluch, Chief Executive at Vertex Law, said: “Adding David to our experienced team of commercial lawyers will only serve to further cement our position as leaders in the field. I am sure he will play a significant role in the team, which handles some of the most interesting and important commercial transactions in Kent and the South East.”

For more information on Vertex Law, visit www.vertexlaw.co.uk or call 01732 224000.

The Kings Hill-based law firm has welcomed Peter Presland and Ram Gidoomal to its ranks. The businessmen have both enjoyed long and successful careers, serving in a number of board and senior management positions for a wide range of international companies across the public and private sectors.

Irfan Baluch, Chief Executive at Vertex Law, said Peter and Ram had plenty to offer the business.

“Our new strategic advisors boast a wealth of invaluable business experience. They have each enjoyed very successful business careers and we are looking forward to working with them to grow and develop Vertex Law.”

Ram holds a number of positions across the private, public and voluntary sectors. He is Chairman of Winning Communications Partnership Ltd, a company he set up in 1992 to provide management consultancy services, and Citylife Industrial & Provident Society Ltd.

The Surrey-based entrepreneur said: “I am delighted to be joining the experienced team at Vertex Law, which includes experts in a number of fields. I hope I can add value to Vertex and help the company continue to grow in the coming years.”

Peter, who was born in Rochester and now lives in Biddenden, qualified as a Chartered Accountant and currently serves as Chairman at recruitment, payroll and HR software provider Safe Computing Ltd, and Quercus Financial, a start-up seeking to exploit new concepts in the retail card and loyalty scheme markets. He is also a Non-Executive Director of John Holmans & Sons, the oldest Lloyd’s broker, and was for many years the first independent Chairman of LINK, the company which runs the UK ATM cash machine network.

Peter said: “I am very excited to be working with Vertex Law, which has an excellent reputation in the industry. In addition to advising on strategy, I am pleased to bring Vertex’s services to the attention of the companies that need them.”

For more information on Vertex Law, visit www.vertexlaw.co.uk. To contact Hazel Dermody, email hazel.dermody@vertexlaw.co.uk or call 01732 224000.

The company’s recent purchase was for the business of the Caterham and Alton offices of a subsidiary of AIM-listed Cobra Holdings in a deal worth more than £5m. It followed Aston Scott’s acquisition of the business of Croydon based insurance brokers Francis Townsend & Hayward in October.

The company, which has 10 branches throughout the UK, was recently named as a Kent 2011 ‘Mega Growth’ business and has worked alongside Vertex for some years.

“Aston Scott is a well regarded group with a track record of successful acquisition and integration over many years,” said Salim Somjee of the Kings Hill corporate and commercial law firm.

“I have been delighted to work with the business on both of its recent acquisitions and to see the company go from strength to strength.”

“The acquisition of these new businesses is part of our ongoing strategy of carefully controlled growth,” said Aston Scott Group plc Chairman Andrew Scott. 

“The group has developed through organic growth, acquisition and diversification, now employing around 200 staff.

“We believe in offering our clients a service which is tailored to their needs and this includes employing staff of the highest calibre across a network of regional offices.  By developing a long term relationship and gaining a real understanding of their needs we are able to provide bespoke risk management and insurance solutions. 

“This focus on a professional and personal service coupled with tailored, expert advice is what we look for in our suppliers – and that is the reason we enjoy such a good relationship with Vertex Law.”

Caroline Young, Gemma Butler and Ben Deeble-Rogers all proved they had a head for heights through taking on the KM Charity Abseil Challenge in aid of the Foundation while Hazel Dermody completed a 10-mile Rotary Ramble. Vertex employees also raised money through office bake offs, food sales, monthly mentoring of children and donations of a truck filled with household goods to help those leaving the care of the Caldecott Foundation move into their own accommodation. Vertex also has a monthly lunch open to all staff cooked by its budding chefs and representing a variety of food from around the world. Vertex’s monthly lunches are becoming quite a feature in the Vertex calendar!

Topping off their fundraising campaign, Vertex decided to put money usually spent on sending Christmas cards to clients and referrers towards buying the children presents.

Irfan Baluch, CEO at Vertex Law, said: “Buying presents for the children seemed a fitting end to the year. We are delighted to have been able to raise funds for the Caldecott Foundation, which supports some of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

“I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored our staff in their various fundraising efforts and helped us raise more than £1,600 for the Foundation.”

For more information contact Hazel Dermody, email hazel.dermody@vertexlaw.co.uk or call 01732 224 000.

Heathfield-based TFC Ltd, which is one of Europe's leading suppliers of technical fasteners to industry and manufacturing, has acquired ESF Ltd, a Yorkshire company with a strong presence in the north of England. The £1.5 million deal is TFC’s third acquisition in as many years.

The opportunity was introduced to TFC by the corporate finance team of Crowe Clark Whitehill, a leading national firm offering audit, tax and business advisory services with local offices in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone. The team negotiated with the vendors and advisors of ESF and managed the acquisition process on behalf of TFC from start to finish.

Expert legal advice to help complete the transaction was provided by Vertex Law, a Kent-based firm of corporate and commercial lawyers. Finance was secured from NatWest and RBS Invoice Finance.

This deal was hot on the heels of the acquisition in June of Specialised Fastener Products Ltd, a transaction where Crowe Clark Whitehill also provided the corporate finance advice and Vertex provided legal advice.

Martin Clarke, Joint Managing Director at TFC Europe Ltd, said: “The acquisition of ESF Ltd demonstrates our commitment to grow the business further and provide an extensive range of products and services to our customers.

“We are delighted to welcome the ESF team to the TFC family and offer an enhanced service to all of ESF’s existing customers as well as new ones.

“The careful implementation of our buy-and-build strategy has been greatly assisted by the support provided by our professional advisers, in particular Vertex Law and Crowe Clark Whitehill, as well as the financial backing of NatWest.”

James Beatton, Corporate Partner at Vertex Law, added: “We have worked with TFC on its two most recent acquisitions dealing with the commercial legal aspects of the deals as well as financial matters. The group is the ideal client with a strong, motivated management team, an inclusive approach to its professional advisers and a clear strategy for growth.”

Geert Struyven, Corporate Finance Partner at Crowe Clark Whitehill, said: “I have worked with TFC now for over five years on all their acquisitions and I continue to be impressed with the management team. They achieve consistent growth and continually improve profitability through a mixture of organic expansion and acquisitions, even in a difficult economic climate.

Headquartered in Heathfield, and with operations also in Colchester, Walsall, Bochum in Germany and an office in Costa Rica, TFC supplies bespoke fasteners to industry. It also supplies more than 10,000 off-the-shelf fastening solutions, including panel, pipe and wire fasteners, springs and seals, to businesses in 24 countries around the world. As a company, TFC counts Bosch, Daimler AG, ZF Group, Bombardier Transportation Limited and Delphi Diesel Systems Limited among its 3,000 international customers.

TFC is largely funded through Sevenoaks-based private equity investor Foresight Group, which has a successful track record in finding, developing and exiting unquoted companies and providing between £1-£5 million of equity finance.

The previous two acquisitions made by TFC were Specialised Fastener Products Ltd and Cavalier Fasteners.

For more information on Vertex Law, visit www.vertexlaw.co.uk or call 01732 224000.

Caption (L-R): Mathew Glentworth of NatWest;
 James Beatton of Vertex Law; 
Martin Clarke of TFC Europe Ltd; 
Donald Maclennan of Foresight Group
; and Geert Struyven of Crowe Clark Whitehill.