DLA Piper has advised the drinks group Conviviality in connection with the sale of its retail business, which includes the Bargain Booze and Wine Rack brands, to the grocery wholesaler Bestway. The transaction will save approximately 1,700 jobs. DLA Piper also advised on the sale of Conviviality's wholesale business to the C&C Group, a deal that closed last week saving nearly 2,000 jobs.

Founded in 1990, Conviviality was listed on the Alternative Investment Market in 2013 and become Britain's biggest alcohol wholesaler. A big supplier to the drinks industry, it services more than 23,000 outlets, including shops, hotels and pubs.

The multi-disciplinary DLA Piper team, led by Leeds-based Restructuring partner Mark Jackson, comprised lawyers from the firm’s Restructuring, Corporate, Finance and Regulatory groups across its London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham offices. The team also included Corporate partner Martin Penn (London), Finance & Projects partner Matthew Christmas (Manchester), Litigation & Regulatory senior associate Puesan Lam (London) and Employment associate Ryan Stringer (Leeds).

DLA Piper also acted for PwC as administrators in executing the disposals.