Muckle advises Durham poultry farm on its latest acquisition

Advisers from our agriculture, estates and rural property and corporate finance teams supported longstanding family business Dinsdale Farming Limited with the acquisition of Musterfield Poultry Growers Limited, helping to strengthen their presence in the marketplace.

As ambitions to grow their business and increase production at their farm near darlington were stalled due to planning and legislation, owners Henry Dent and his parents Trevor and Sue consulted Muckle's legal expertise.

The broiler chicken farm operation will almost double in size as a result of the takeover.

As a family-ran business, they rear 270,000 birds, seven times a year. The acquisition and addition of a second, ready-made site in York will mean that they can produce hundreds of thousands more stock for the retail market in 2025.

Specialist legal support

With hopes of expanding in an area they are familiar with, the Dent family sought advice from Charlotte Patterson-Ryan, partner in our agricultural, real estate and rural property team and Mike Spetch, partner in our corporate finance team. The family also engaged with Armstrong Watson's corporate finance and tax teams.

Henry said: “It has been a long-term goal for me to be able to expand the family business and this was achieved with the exceptional support received from Armstrong Watsons and Muckle LLP all of whom had my best interests at heart and working as one team throughout the process.”

Seizing growth opportunities 

Charlotte Patterson-Ryan, partner of Muckle LLP, said: “It’s fantastic to see Dinsdale Farming acquire an asset that provides a valuable opportunity to upscale their operations. This was an incredibly fast-paced transaction with many moving parts. Working around the clock, ensured we achieved the result needed within tight timescales."

"Throughout the process, we worked closely with the family, and Armstrong Watson, sharing both the highs and lows of this journey. Transactions like this highlight a potential growth area as farmers increasingly look to restructure how they hold their assets, particularly following announcements in the 2024 Autumn Budget. It’s a privilege to help clients navigate these complex deals and secure opportunities that drive their growth."

Corporate finance partner at Armstrong Watson, David Wilson, who worked alongside Helena Lorimer, Hayley Deeming, Hydeam Sulton, Brian Rudkin and Andrew Robinson, said: “We were delighted to support and advise Henry with this significant transaction. Dinsdale Farming has been a hugely successful, family business for decades and this acquisition further strengthens their presence in the poultry farming sector.”

Andrew Robinson, senior agricultural partner at Armstrong Watson, who has supported the Dent family for more than a decade, added: “It’s fantastic to see a family business pushing on but also seeing Trevor and Sue backing Henry, who has driven this acquisition. This is great to see in a farming family. We wish them all the best and will continue to support them in their future endeavours.”

To learn more about how we can help with your agriculture, real estate and rural property transactions, please contact Charlotte Patterson-Ryan on 0191 211 7887 or email [email protected].