We have advised Tournus Expansion on their merger with CED Fabrications.

Tournus Expansion, which was founded in 1910 and is based in Burgundy, manufactures stainless steel catering equipment for the catering industry. Backed by private equity investors MML Capital, UI Gestion and BPI, the company generated annual revenues of more than €45 million last year.

UK-based CED Fabrications manufactures complementary products including refrigerated food displays, patisserie cabinets and food servery counters. Based in Accrington, they employ 150 people and have manufacturing facilities in Liverpool and Sandwich. They have annual revenues of £11.5 million.

The merger will enable the manufacturers to expand their product portfolio and grow their business both in the UK and internationally.

We provided advice to Tournus Expansion's management team alongside our affiliate firm in France, FIDAL. Corporate finance advisory and investment firm Orbis Partners also advised Tournus Expansion, and CED Fabrications was advised by BDO and DLA Piper.

Corporate partner Peter McLintock, who led the our team, said: “Orbis and Mills & Reeve have collaborated on a number of occasions to help overseas clients gain a foothold in the UK. The UK’s vote to leave the EU unfolded during the later stages of the transaction, and while Brexit caused us a few sleepless nights, ultimately the outcome didn’t affect the merger due to the strong will and dedication of all parties involved.”