Freshfields, Norton Rose and Macfarlanes steer D&G take-private

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Norton Rose and Macfarlanes have secured the UK’s first major public-to-private takeover since a global credit crunch hit the debt markets last month.

The firms all scored major roles in the £524m takeover of Domestic & General Group (D&G), a FTSE250 company up until now. The deal was announced this morning.

Freshfields advised Advent International on the takeover, which saw the private equity house offer £14.25 per share in cash for D&G, a 13 per cent premium on last Thursday’s (30 August) closing price. Private equity co-head Chris Bown, who manages the relationship with Advent, led the team.

Norton Rose meanwhile advised the company, with corporate finance partners Mark Bankes and Glenn Hall leading.

D&G’s management took separate advice from Macfarlanes.