Pinsent Masons advises CH&CO on £85m acquisition of Mitie Group’s catering & hospitality business

International law firm Pinsent Masons has advised CH&CO Catering Group on the £85m acquisition of the UK and Irish catering and hospitality business of Mitie Group Plc.

The transaction is structured as a sale of the entire issued share capital of Mitie Catering Services Limited, the catering business and assets of Mitie Facilities Management Limited in Ireland, together trading under the name Gather & Gather, along with the entire issued share capital of Creativevents Limited.

Headquartered in Reading, CH&CO offers premium contract and hospitality catering services throughout the UK to a broad range of sectors including workplaces, venues, tourist destinations, independent and State schools, further education, healthcare and events. The transaction represents the first acquisition by CH&CO since Equistone Partners Europe Limited invested in the business in May 2019 and is a key part of the growth strategy of CH&CO, providing the potential for future growth via the strategic partnership entered into with Mitie pursuant to which Gather & Gather will provide catering services to Mitie’s integrated facilities management sector partners.   

The Pinsent Masons team acting on the transaction was led by partner Edward Stead (Corporate) and senior associate Adam Seymour (Corporate) and comprised a multidisciplinary team including Ben Elliott (Corporate), Ben Gardner (Commercial), Andrew McCarthy (Tax), Ciara Ruane (Employment), April Horsman (Employment), Sam Lewis (Corporate) and Damini Kotecha (Corporate). 

Commenting on the deal Edward Stead, Head of UK Private Equity at Pinsent Masons, said:

"Having acted for CH&CO since 2015 on a number of strategic acquisitions and disposals, we have developed a close working relationship with the team and an in-depth knowledge of the catering and events sector in the United Kingdom.  This transaction was complex and highlighted our ability to work across jurisdictions (alongside our colleagues in Dublin) to deliver a seamless service.”

Commenting on the deal Bill Toner, CEO of CH&CO, said:

“Pinsent Masons has worked alongside CH&CO for several years now and we know and trust their experts to provide us with the important advice we need.  These deals are often very complex and it’s reassuring to have them on our team to guide us.”

Commenting on the deal Ed Baker, Investment Director at Equistone Partners Europe, said:

“This is a significant acquisition for CH&CO (the first since our investment in the Company) and we were extremely pleased to have Pinsent Masons on the team.  Pinsent Masons know the business and the sector well and were instrumental in getting this complex deal over the line for us.”

Canaccord Genuity, Marlborough Partners and PWC advised CH&CO.