SOUTH Coast-based garden centre group Haskins has been on the expansion trail - with the £7million acquisition of a West Sussex company.

The deal to buy Roundstone Garden Centre at Angmering, which was completed with the help of advisors from Blake Lapthorn, gives Haskins a third outlet - it already trades from sites in Southampton and Ferndown.

As part of the deal, Haskins is leasing back part of the Roundstone Garden Centre to Roundstone Nurseries.

Haskins chairman, Warren Haskins, added: "I'm extremely pleased that such a very complex deal has been handled so smoothly. Our existing garden centres in Hampshire and Dorset have proved very successful and the acquisition of this site will provide us with a significantly increased market presence. Haskins now run the three largest destination garden centres on the South Coast."

David Rayner, one of the partners at Blake Lapthorn responsible for handling the acquisition, commented: "There were a number of complex issues that arose during the transaction for which practical, legal and commercial solutions had to be found. In addition, property matters took a more prominent role than is usually the case in a corporate acquisition, both due to the nature of the previous ownership and the fact that adjoining land was being retained by the seller.

"Fortunately, across Blake Lapthorn's four offices, we have all the necessary experts on hand to structure such a transaction properly and we were able to smooth out difficulties as they arose. A number of solicitors

from Blake Lapthorn's commercial and property departments led by Kath Shimmin and myself were involved in the deal and the financing arrangements were carried out in conjunction with Lloyds TSB Bank ."