It's a deal - Moore Blatch celebrates busy commercial year

Leading south coast law firm Moore Blatch is celebrating one of its busiest years in the commercial market with the IT sector leading the way in terms of completed deals and complicated refinancing deals putting local companies in a stronger position for the future.

The sale of four IT companies worth in excess of £2.6 million and the rescheduling of more than £25 million of banking facilities for one client are among the highlights of recent work by the Southampton-based commercial team.

Peter Jeffery, partner within the team, said variety has been prevalent in the last 12 months with a combination of transactions, restructuring deals and specialist intellectual property advice involved in the work with a wide range of companies.

“In the past the market has been dominated by buy-ins and buy-outs but there has been a definite shift and much of our work is in restructuring a company’s organisation or its finances,’’ he said.

Highlights of the year included the rescheduling of banking facilities for a client worth in excess of £35 million and the incorporation and restructuring of a large yachting association which included the approval of more than 600 members.

“Our specialist banking knowledge meant the rescheduling could be completed quickly and efficiently to meet tight deadlines,’’ he said.

But despite this move towards internal changes Mr Jeffery said the team has handled a number of deals in the IT market – and the sale of a toothpaste brand. “Our expertise in the commercial market means that we have worked on a wide range of projects and the toothpaste transaction was no exception.’’

Levels of activity show no signs of abating and Mr Jeffery said the remainder of 2008 is likely to see this wide spread of activity continue.