The family-owned Coach Operators of Procters Coaches, Compass Royston Travel, Esk Valley Coaches and Fourway Coaches have recently been sold to The Go-Ahead Group, bringing 200 staff members, 140 vehicles, and five depots into its fold. The companies provide luxury coach contract hire services across the UK and Europe and the acquisitions are expected to significantly strengthen Go-Ahead’s foothold in the Yorkshire region.
Kevin Procter, former owner and founder of Procters Coaches in 1990, expressed his confidence in the acquisition, highlighting Go-Ahead’s commitment to the teams and communities they serve.
We advised the shareholders on the sale. Our team included Jeni Bramley, who provided tax services including pre-sale restructuring, David Ross who provided accountancy and Due Diligence support and Tom Parry advising from a Corporate Finance perspective.
Jeni Bramley, our Tax Partner, commented, “We are delighted to have been able to support the shareholders with the sale. The transaction was complex and was structured to tight timescales, but all parties worked together to make it happen. We are excited to see how Go-Ahead will grow the Coach Operator business and are delighted to have been able to assist with the pairing”.
DWF acted as legal advisors to the shareholders, led by Birmingham corporate partner Mark Gibson alongside fellow partner Tom Rank and solicitor, Narissa Pankhania delivering on a complex sale within a challenging timeframe. Mark Gibson, Partner at DWF Solicitors said “We are pleased to have contributed to the successful completion of this transaction. Our focus was on ensuring that all legal aspects were handled efficiently and that the interests of the sellers were well represented throughout the process.”
Kevin Procter said, “it has been a pleasure to deal with bk plus, DWF and Jacksons Law, I would highly recommend them for anyone in a position such as mine”.
Commercial property advice was provided by Jacksons Law Firm in connection with title re-structuring and new leases.