Womble Bond Dickinson advises Rockpool on investment in European garden products retailer

Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has advised Rockpool on a significant investment to support the acquisition of Primrose, Europe’s largest online-only garden products retailer.

The acquisition sees Rockpool become the majority owner of the new group, with the management team investing in a significant stake. Mark Pearson, previously chief executive of Gardman Group and Solus Garden & Leisure, led the management buyout and has been appointed as Primrose’s new CEO.

The WBD team was led by Corporate Partner Leon Miller with support from Alex Fergus, Tom Caplen, Ronan Lowney and Nikki Powell.

Leon Miller of WBD commented: “We’ve been working with Rockpool Investments for many years and we’re delighted to have advised on this investment. Our corporate, banking and real estate teams have the depth and breadth of expertise to advise clients on significant projects and support them in all of their ambitions.”

Darran Green, Investment Director at Rockpool, said: “We are delighted to welcome Primrose into the Rockpool portfolio, adding to our existing UK investments in consumer products and outdoor retail. We believe the company is well-positioned to capture demographic trends favouring mature, home-owning consumers who are increasingly drawn to the competitive prices and product ranges available online.”

Ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms, WBD provides legal expertise in eleven key sectors from across eight offices in the UK, including London and 19 offices in the US. The firm has a large corporate practice in the UK advising national and international clients on a broad range of corporate transactions, particularly M&As, IPOs, private equity investments, growth and development capital, and public company fundraisings.

WBD represents many of the world’s best-known consumer brands and retailers, operating across the sector, including food and beverage companies, hotels and restaurants, gaming operators, developers, investors, and producers. Clients in the UK include Kingfisher Group, Colgate-Palmolive, Whitbread (Costa Coffee), Post Office, Specsavers and New Look.