Norton Rose helps to secure G4S’s £5.2bn acquisition of ISS

The deal, one of the biggest this year, creates the world’s largest integrated security services group by revenue, profit and employee numbers.

Slaughters advised ISS on the deal, fielding a team led by corporate partner Jeff Twentyman. Banking ­partners Robert Byk and Matthew Tobin also advised the Danish company on financing aspects.

The teams were assisted by corporate associates Susannah Macknay and Sophie Gardiner, banking associates Edward Fife and senior partner Chris Saul,
a corporate lawyer.

Byk and Tobin advised ISS on the extension of a DKK25.5bn (£2.9m) loan facility earlier this year. Slaughters also advised Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs, on its acquisition of ISS ­together with EQT in 2005.

Herbert Smith was the lead adviser to UK security company G4S. The City firm’s team was led by ­global M&A co-head Stephen Wilkinson, with ECM partners Chris Haynes and US securities partner Steve Thierbach advising on the £2bn rights issue used to fund the deal.

Senior corporate associate Robert Moore, US securities associate Jessica He and ­corporate associates Sarah Galbraith, Richard Hollis and Caroline Rae were also in the Herbert Smith team. Debt capital markets ­partner Andrew Roberts also advised on the deal.

Recent recruit Will Nevin, who joined from ­Linklaters in the summer, advised on the acquisition finance side with assistance from banking senior ­associate Davendip Virk.
Danish outfit Bruun & Hjejle acted for G4S out of Copenhagen, fielding ­corporate partner Henning Aasmul-Olsen.

Brussels partner Mark Tricker led the Norton Rose team advising G4S on ­competition aspects, together with London partner ­Martin Coleman, who heads the global antitrust, competition and regulatory team.

Herbert Smith and ­Norton Rose are both ­established advisers to G4S.