Leading UK law firm, Shepherd and Wedderburn has acted for BSW Timber in its acquisition of Tilhill Forestry Limited from UPM-Kymmene.

BSW is the largest forest products company in the UK. The company’s foundations go back to 1848, and today it employs 1000 people in the UK and Latvia, generating a turnover in excess of £220 million.

Corporate Partner, Danny Lee, led the Shepherd and Wedderburn team on its third acquisition for BSW in a period of little more than a year. In July BSW acquired Southampton-based sawmill, RF Giddings Holdings Limited, and this was followed quickly by its purchase of Suffolk–based fuel log producer, Bridgebrooke Energy Limited.   BSW’s Group Finance Director commented: “Shepherd and Wedderburn have been BSW’s corporate lawyers for the last 7 years, during which time the company has grown from £100m to over £200m by both acquisition and organic growth. Their ability to provide advice across a number of areas, plus their knowledge of BSW’s business, continue to add significant value”.

Based in Stirling, Tilhill Forestry provides professional forestry management and timber harvesting throughout the UK.

Tony Hackney, chief executive, BSW Timber Limited, said: “This significant acquisition creates the largest forest products company in the UK and underscores our ambition to increase the utilisation of UK timber. BSW is a growing enterprise and this acquisition is a key component of BSW’s vision for future development.”