Browne Jacobson advises The Range on second phase of Homebase acquisition

UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has advised CDS Superstores, the company behind The Range, on its acquisition of the majority of the Homebase stores located in the Republic of Ireland. 

This latest deal follows The Range’s acquisition of 70 UK Homebase stores on which Browne Jacobson also advised. 

The Irish Homebase stores, located at Nutgrove, Sligo, Drogheda, Santry and Portlaoise, will be rebranded as The Range. Homebase’s brand will continue as a digital retail outlet, with the firm’s shops becoming The Range outlets over the coming months. These stores will combine the current offering of The Range with an expanded selection across garden, showroom and DIY categories. CDS Superstores will continue to invest in the brand.

Browne Jacobson advised The Range with a multi-disciplinary team of experts from its Ireland and UK teams.

The Browne Jacobson Ireland team that led the acquisition included corporate partners William Darmody and Gavin Bluett, principal associate James Byrne (corporate), associate Nadine Cannon (corporate), legal director Emma Middleton (real estate) and associate Raymond Sherry (IP/data). Browne Jacobson UK partners Nigel Blackwell (corporate), Emma Taylor (insolvency/restructuring) and Matthew Woodford (anti-trust) also advised on the transaction.

William Darmody, Partner and Head of the Irish Corporate team at Browne Jacobson, said: 

"Browne Jacobson is pleased to have advised CDS Superstores on its landmark acquisition of Homebase across both the UK and Ireland. Today’s transaction is set to revolutionise their home and garden portfolio across Ireland and underscores our capability to empower market leaders in the retail sector on achieving their strategic ambitions."

Browne Jacobson’s Retail and Consumer group operates as a part of the firm’s wider Corporates offering, and works with a myriad of high profile, international clients, spanning luxury fashion houses, sportswear manufacturers and high street retailers. This transaction demonstrates the firm's continued commitment to supporting ambitious market leaders globally.

The team has significant expertise advising the sector on a wide variety of legal matters, including disputes, employment, real estate, corporate financing and intellectual property. Recent transactions which the firm has advised on include the sale of coffee roaster chain 200 Degrees to the Caffè Nero Group, and the sale of indoor climbing operator The Climbing Hangar to Belgium-based investment firm Verlinvest.