Transaction

Meta Scores for Bob Woolmer Sales

Bob Woolmer Sales Limited (“BWS”), the Kent-based school sports equipment provider, has been acquired by BSL International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SportsDirect.com Retail Limited (“Sports Direct”), part of the listed retail business, Frasers Group.

BWS offer a wide range of equipment from a variety of well-known sports brands. The catalogue includes products from Nike footballs and Carlton badminton rackets to track hurdles and landing mats making BWS the go-to place for schools, colleges and sports clubs to source high quality equipment.

The company is named after the late Kent and England cricketer, Bob Woolmer. James Wattenbach managed a sports shop in Tonbridge for Bob until he moved to South Africa when he allowed the sellers to use his name to establish Bob Woolmer Sales Limited to offer sports equipment to schools.

Meta Corporate Finance (“Meta”) was engaged by James and Helen Wattenbach several years ago to consider their approach to an eventual exit and advise on value and deal structure. The time was not right to sell straightaway but events developed in 2021 that dictated an approach to the market was timely.

Sports Direct already owned a competing business, Sports Directory, which was well-known to BWS. The opportunity to combine the two businesses allowed James and Helen to retire from the business on completion of the sale.

James and Helen Wattenbach were advised by Peter Counsell and Robbie Burn of Meta Corporate Finance in the negotiation and execution of the transaction. Jason Varney and Rachel Macmillan of Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP managed the legal aspects of the transaction.

James Wattenbach said “Helen and I are delighted to have completed the sale of Bob Woolmer Sales. When we first met Peter, I didn’t know what I would do after the sale. Now we are enjoying retirement and wonder how we had time to work so much. Helen and I are delighted with the sale and especially pleased with our professional advisers. The teams headed by Peter and by Jason were invaluable to us during an unfamiliar and, at times, emotional process and made such a difference to the eventual outcome.”

Client:

Bob Woolmer Sales Limited

Service:

Sell Side

Region:

Sector:

Food & Beverage/Leisure & Tourism

META Project Lead

Peter Counsell

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