Nauta, CC win lead roles on Möller-Maersk deal

Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May best friend Nauta Dutilh have landed the lead roles on the potential multibillion-pound offer by Danish shipping group Möller-Maersk for Royal P&O Nedlloyd.

Möller-Maersk, advised by Clifford Chance, is expected to offer E2.3bn (£1.57bn) in cash for Royal P&O Nedlloyd, which has instructed Nauta Dutilh.

The Nauta Dutilh team, which is being led by partner Erik Hammerstein, is being supported by Linklaters.

It is understood that Linklaters was brought in because it worked with Nauta Dutilh to advise Royal P&O Nedlloyd on its restructuring a year ago.

The Clifford Chance team is being led by Amsterdam-based partners Jeroen Koster and Hector de Beaufort, with support from partner Neil Harvey in London.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising P&O, the largest shareholder in Royal P&O Nedlloyd.

According to a preliminary announcement, the offer memorandum will be published as early as next month.