Wragge & Co advises on acquisition of Harry Ramsden's restaurant chain

Wragge & Co LLP has advised Boparan Ventures Limited on its acquisition of Harry Ramsden's for an undisclosed sum. Food and restaurant entrepreneur Ranjit Boparan, of Birmingham-based Boparan Ventures Limited, is the new owner of the famous national fish and chip restaurant chain.

Corporate partner Baljit Chohan led the deal, working closely with the new CEO of Harry Ramsden's, Marija Simovic, and Boparan Ventures' head of M&A Sukhbinder Heer and in-house counsel Andrew Cuthbert.

Baljit said: "Our close working relationship with this entrepreneurial and ambitious company ensured we fully understood and met its objectives. We have a strong track record advising clients in the food and drink sector, and acting on high-profile mergers and acquisitions. The deal represents an important acquisition for the company as it strengthens its foothold in the restaurant industry."

Marija Simovic added: "This was a challenging deal and all credit goes to Baljit and the team at Wragge & Co for its outstanding work, without whom we could not have completed this deal."

Ranjit Boparan is one of the UK's most successful self-made entrepreneurs, with businesses employing 6,000 people worldwide and which have combined annual sales nearing £1 billion. In addition to Harry Ramsden's, he owns the Fishworks restaurant chain and international poultry processor 2 Sisters Food Group.

Britain's longest established food chain, Harry Ramsden's currently operates 36 restaurants and takeaways across the UK. Following Boparan's latest strategic acquisition, the company plans to open a further 100 locations within the next five years, potentially creating 600 jobs. Travers Smith advised SSP Financing UK Limited the previous owner of Harry Ramsden's.

Wragge & Co's 70-lawyer Corporate group handles a complete range of corporate finance work, ranging from mergers and acquisitions, private equity, IPOs, joint ventures, public takeovers, share schemes, complex corporate structuring and tax.

Latest deals include advising AIM-listed property company, The Conygar Investment Company Plc, on its successful hostile reverse takeover of London and Channel Islands listed company, the Advantage Property Income Trust Limited (TAP). In a separate transaction, the team also advised Conygar on a successful £70 million placing. The firm has vast experience in the food and drink sector, with clients including HJ Heinz, Cadbury, Birds Eye and United Biscuits.