East Mids professional services firms work on multi-billion pound deal

A multi-billion pound merger, creating one of the UK’s largest wholesale buying groups, has been supported by two of the region’s professional services’ firms.

Accountancy firm Duncan & Toplis and law firm Wilkin Chapman solicitors facilitated the historic merger between Landmark Wholesale and Today’s Group.

Landmark Wholesale and Today’s Group are currently two of the UK’s largest independent wholesale buying groups.

Merging under the name of Unitas Wholesale, the new company will supply independent wholesalers who, in turn, supply thousands of independent retailers and small businesses.

The merger was formally announced last week after a members’ vote resulted in 96 per cent in favour.

Damon Brain, director at Duncan & Toplis said: “We’re extremely proud to have played a part in this deal. Today’s Group and Landmark Wholesale knew that enhancing scale was the right move but needed some guidance on how to make it happen.

“We were presented with the challenge of piecing together a huge jigsaw but from the outset we supported the belief that the two companies are an excellent fit and our team made an extraordinary effort to make this happen. It’s great to have been a part of setting the stage for the future of these two firms.”

Partner and head of corporate and commercial at Wilkin Chapman solicitors Russell Eke, and his team, acted for Today’s Wholesale when it parted company with what was then called Nisa-Today’s back in 2012.

Eke said: “Unitas Wholesale now moves forward with a fantastic opportunity to improve efficiency and services for members and suppliers. With increased competition from the multinationals in this sector, it was vital we moved forward within the tight timescales set and I am delighted, for all concerned, that this was achieved.”

John Mills, managing director at Landmark Wholesale and Darren Goldney, managing director at Today’s Group said: “We are absolutely delighted that our members voted to merge the two groups. Through enhanced scale, relevance and capability, Unitas Wholesale will be the sustainable wholesale business partner for its supplier base, creating an alternative route to market in the face of the consolidation that is taking place within the wholesale sector.”

The merger will formally complete on 31 October 2018. By then both groups will have been through a period of consultation and selection with management and staff and will have announced the structure to support the new company.

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