Kuits advises on sale of Manor Service Stations

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Manchester commercial law firm Kuits has advised on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Cheshire-based Manor Services Stations  to Motor Fuel.

One of the major independent petrol retailers in the North of England and Wales, Manor manages and operates nine stations, employing over 80 staff.

Hertfordshire-headquartered Motor Fuel is the second largest independent forecourt operator in the UK, currently managing 413 stations under the BP, Shell, Texaco, JET and Murco fuel brands.

Kuits provided a comprehensive commercial and legal offering to the owners of the Macclesfield-based family business, Peter, Joe and Anthea Brough, integrating corporate, commercial property and employment advice.

Corporate partners Peter Allen and Kirsti Pinnell led the sale, supported by solicitors Barry Riley and Rebecca Bainbridge. Partner David Moroney and solicitor Matt Wallis advised on the transfer of property, while Mark Clayton advised on employment and partner Paul Bricknell advised on the tax aspects of the transaction.

Other advisers on the transaction included Pinsent Masons (led by partner Tom Leman and corporate associate Adam Murphy) who acted on behalf of  Motor Fuel. Accountants Thompson Wright (Jeremy Bostock and Dan Oakes) provided accounting and tax advice, and Adam Wadlow of Barber Wadlow provided corporate finance advice, both to Manor.

Peter Allen said: “Manor Services is a longstanding client of Kuits and we are delighted to have worked closely with Peter and his family throughout the process of preparing the family business for sale.

“The experience built up by our specialist Family Business advisory team in working with all shapes and sizes of family businesses across the North West meant that we were able to provide a bespoke service on this complex and very personal transaction.”

Peter Brough said: “To say that I was pleasantly surprised by the entire process handled by Kuits’ corporate team would be an understatement. The process, lasting a number of months, was naturally very stressful. However, the team went out of their way to make it as painless as possible.

“The sheer volume of work they got through with the highest level of professionalism was exemplary and let it be said that if I have to go through the process again, I wouldn’t dream of using any other corporate team than the one at Kuits.”