Birketts advises on sale of John F Hunt Group to its employees

Birketts’ Corporate Team advised on all aspects of the sale for its client, which saw 100 per cent of the company and its wider group sold to the EOT.

The Birketts niche employee ownership team was led by Lisa Hayward (Partner and Head of Employee Incentives) and Laura Gray (Senior Associate, Corporate) supported by Kye Strowbridge (Trainee Solicitor, Employee Incentives).

They worked with corporate colleagues Alex Forwood (Senior Associate, Corporate) and Alex Price (Associate, Corporate) with Melanie Harvey (Legal Director, Commercial and Technology) assisting on all intellectual property matters.

Lisa Hayward said: “We’re delighted to have worked with the team at John F Hunt Group in their transition to an Employee Ownership Trust. We look forward to watching the group to continue to succeed as an employee-owned group.”

Headquartered in Grays, Essex, John F Hunt Group Ltd has more than 500 employees across the UK. Chairman John Hall said: “Selling the group to a third party or breaking it up was never an option I would have considered.

“Our employees are the heart of the business and creating an employee-owned future felt like the natural progression. I’m delighted by the overwhelming support from our directors and staff.”

Founded by John Hall in 1982, the John F Hunt Group proudly carries forward the legacy of his great-grandfather, whose ironworks business thrived in London’s East End during the 1930s.

Financial results for the year ending March 31, 2023 showed turnover increased by 44 per cent to £157 million, pre-tax profits of £9.46m and a net asset value of £38.6m.