MORE than 100 jobs have been saved at a Worcestershire packaging and import business after a multi-million pound management buyout.

The management team of Simms and Wood, a vegetable producer which supplies many of the UK’s major supermarket chains, was advised on the company purchase by Worcester solicitors Harrison Clark.

The deal was turned around in just three weeks, thus securing the future of the 50-year-old Pershore business.

Harrison Clark partner Inger Woolhouse said the management team, headed by farming operations director James Massingham, had been able to move quickly to secure funding and complete the transaction due to the support of their bank.

“The whole agreement hinged on the purchase being carried out swiftly to retain the workforce, the client base and the goodwill that Simms and Woods had built up over its 50-year history,” she said.

“Because the bank and the company’s creditors were supportive throughout the process, the deal progressed quickly and smoothly, which was vital to the buyout.”

Mr Massingham said that as the management team was already a retained client of Harrison Clark, this gave the legal team very valuable working knowledge of the mechanics of the business.

The team was also advised by national financial advisers Cooper Parry.