Wragge & Co has played a leading role in advising the UK's largest branded food producer Premier Foods Plc on the £182m sale of its canned groceries business to rival Princes.

Wragge's food and drink sector team gave legal advise to Hertfordshire-based Premier, which sold its canned groceries division to Princes. The division employs 1,600 people and includes brands such as Crosse & Blackwell, Fray Bentos, Farrows and Smedleys.

The legal team included commercial partner David Lowe, antitrust partner Bernardine Adkins, environmental partner Lee McBride and health and safety partner Andrew Litchfield. Corporate partner Richard Haywood, who led the legal team, said Premier is a great client to work with and an impressive organization.

Princes was advised by Clifford Chance. Corporate partner Jonathan Beastall led the legal team.

The deal needs to be approved by banks and shareholders of the two companies and needs clearance from the European Commission.

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