Max City Ltd acquired an established central London pharmacy as part of its ongoing growth strategy, strengthening its presence in the healthcare sector and expanding its footprint in the London pharmacy market.
We supported Max City Ltd through every stage of the £1.35 million acquisition, guiding the transfer of the pharmacy business, assets, goodwill, NHS pharmacy contract and employees into a new company, ready for acquisition.
The transaction was structured as a hive-down, an increasingly popular approach in healthcare acquisitions that can provide greater legal and tax flexibility for both the buyers and the seller.
The challenge
A pharmacy acquisition is about much more than the purchase price.
It calls for careful management of commercial, regulatory, employment and property matters, alongside the transfer of key assets and operational responsibilities. For pharmacies, continuity of the NHS contract is often critical.
For Max City Ltd, this was a milestone: its first acquisition and a decisive move in its growth strategy. Our role was to support their commercial aims while ensuring the right protections were in place.
Our approach
We worked closely with Max City Ltd to understand its commercial objectives and provide practical, commercially focused advice throughout the transaction.
Our team advised on all aspects of the acquisition, including the hive-down transaction structure, the transfer of the pharmacy business and associated assets, employment matters and the NHS pharmacy contract.
By identifying potential issues early and providing clear legal advice at each stage, we helped the client make informed decisions. This helped to maintain momentum and progress the transaction efficiently through to completion.
The transaction was led by Partner Hammad Naveed, with support from Partner Carley Ellis and Associate Solicitor Haaris Butt.
The outcome
The acquisition completed smoothly, giving Max City Ltd a strong platform for further growth in the London pharmacy sector.
This transaction shows how pragmatic legal advice helps ambitious healthcare businesses navigate complex acquisitions and stay focused on their commercial goals.
As Hammad Naveed commented:
"Orwins is proud to be advising ambitious healthcare businesses on their growth and expansion plans. We are delighted to have advised Max City on its first acquisition and look forward to their continued success."
Zarmina Niazi, Director of Max City Ltd, said:
"We are grateful to Hammad and Haaris for their expert advice and guidance on this important central London acquisition. Their advice was timely and on point, and we were glad they were part of our team."
