Prime Highlights
- FRP Advisory’s corporate finance team completed three major transactions at the start of 2026, showing strong deal momentum.
- The deals support growth across both legal services and automotive businesses in the UK and Ireland.
Key Facts
- Slater and Gordon secured a refinancing deal, while The Vella Group completed a management buyout backed by private equity.
- Kerrs Tyres Group received new funding from DunPort Capital Management to support future expansion and acquisitions.
Background:
FRP Advisory’s corporate finance team has started 2026 with three deals in the legal and automotive sectors. These include a refinancing for Slater and Gordon, a buyout at The Vella Group, and new funding for Kerrs Tyres Group.
The biggest deal saw Slater and Gordon secure a renewed £30 million funding agreement with Harbour Litigation Funding. Headquartered in Manchester, the law firm operates through 11 offices across the UK and provides legal services in areas including personal injury, medical negligence and family law. The new agreement extends a funding arrangement first put in place in 2023 and provides improved terms over a further three-year period, supporting the firm’s ongoing growth plans.
FRP Corporate Finance’s debt advisory team worked closely with Slater and Gordon to prepare financial materials, lead negotiations with Harbour and manage the transaction through to completion. The renewed facility is expected to strengthen the firm’s ability to expand access to legal services nationwide.
In the automotive sector, FRP advised on the management buyout of The Vella Group, one of the UK’s established vehicle repair providers. Founded in 1986, the business operates 18 centres across North Wales, the North of England and the Midlands, employing more than 470 staff. The buyout was backed by private equity firms Ama Capital and Keyhaven Capital Partners, allowing managing director Marc Holding and his team to continue leading the business and pursue further site acquisitions across the UK.
FRP’s Cardiff corporate finance team supported the shareholders through every stage of the deal, including choosing investors, handling negotiations and completing the transaction.
The third deal involved Kerrs Tyres Group, a motor services company operating 27 autocentres across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The third deal involved Kerrs Tyres Group, which operates 27 autocentres across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. FRP was appointed by Chiltern Capital to arrange funding to support the company’s expansion. The funding came from DunPort Capital Management and will support future growth and acquisitions.
Overall, the three deals show strong investor confidence in the professional services and automotive sectors and underline FRP Advisory’s role in supporting business growth.
