Private Equity
The Lawyer
Latest SEC tipster award highlights risk for hedge funds and private equity firms download
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued its second-ever whistleblower award. The award went to three anonymous individuals, each of whom will receive five per cent of the monetary sanctions ultimately collected in a case against hedge-fund manager Locust Offshore Management and its chief executive officer, Andrey Hicks, who allegedly defrauded investors of $2.7m (£1.7m), and who have been ordered to pay $7.5m in disgorgement and penalties.
NCTM advises Arcadia in acquisition of stake in VSP Bulloneria
NCTM has advised Arcadia Small Cap in the acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in VSP Bulloneria.
Job Watch: Private Equity
It may seem as if the glory days of private equity are long gone after the credit crunch saw the market grind to a slow halt. But lawyers with a foot in the private equity arena have reason to be cautiously optimistic.
Dechert expands French corporate team with Orrick hires
Dechert has recruited a duo of lawyers from Orrick Rambaud Martel, including partner Matthieu Grollemund, to boost its corporate team in Paris.
Winckworth Sherwood expands its corporate and commercial team
Winckworth Sherwood has strengthened its corporate and commercial team with the appointment of a partner and an associate.
Shoosmiths partner advises on NorthEdge's acquisition of Jigsaw24 stake
Shoosmiths’ Shaun McCabe has acted as part of a team of experts advising on NorthEdge Capital’s acquisition of a majority stake in Jigsaw24.
Delaware decision opens door to enforcement of term sheets download
The Supreme Court of Delaware recently held that covenants to negotiate in good faith are enforceable.
A game changer for competitive M&A transactions? Federal Court passes judgment on bidding tactics download
Federal Court decision contains some important lessons for investment banks and private equity firms involved in competitive sale processes.
DLA Piper advises Fosun in two separate private equity investments
DLA Piper has advised Fosun International in two separate private equity investments in the medical device and hospitality industries.
King & Wood Mallesons wins CSR Firm of the Year award at 2013 ALB event
King & Wood Mallesons has been named CSR Firm of the Year for the fifth consecutive year at the 2013 ALB awards.
Private Equity Perspectives — May 2013 weblink
Taylor Wessing has introduced the latest issue of Private Equity Perspectives, a quarterly update focusing on the latest trends, news and legal issues facing the private-equity industry.
Emma Gibson picks up award for Lawyer of the Year at Thames Valley event
Shoosmiths’ Emma Gibson has defended her title of Lawyer of the Year at the Thames Valley Deals Awards 2013.
Al Tamimi advises Al Noor Hospitals on restructure to enable proposed LSE listing
Al Tamimi & Company has advised Al Noor Hospitals Group on a restructure to enable the group’s proposed listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Equity capital markets — proportionate disclosure checklist download
The PDR aims to ease financial and administrative burdens while ensuring a harmonised approach to reduced disclosures.
Power 30 list names Conyers director Fawaz Elmalki as industry leader
Conyers Dill & Pearman’s Fawaz Elmalki has been recognised in the 2013 MENA Fund Manager Service Provider Power 30 list.
NCTM advises DOC Generici management on acquisition by Charterhouse Capital Partners
NCTM has advised the management of DOC Generici on its acquisition by Charterhouse Capital Partners.
Equity Capital Markets — Which Market? download
Hogan Lovells has released ‘Equity Capital Markets — Which Market?’
King and Wood Mallesons acts on launch of Virtus Health’s AU$339m raising
KWM acts on launch of Virtus Health’s AU$339m raising.
Private equity and investment funds
Dacheng is at the cutting edge of two relatively new fields of law: private equity investment and investment funds.
Shearman hires Weil trio in boost for London private equity
Shearman & Sterling has hired a three-strong private equity team in London from Weil Gotshal & Manges including high-profile partner Mark Soundy.
DLA Piper tops Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst list for second consecutive year
DLA Piper has been ranked first globally by Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst.
Clifford Chance and Freshfields guide Cinven's Partnership IPO
Travers Smith and Ogier take further roles on planned £1.4bn float
Debt programme updates/establishments and the new PD regime — an update download
The debt capital market continues to come to terms with the requirements of the new Prospectus Directive (PD) regime.
Clifford Chance and Simpson Thacher share KKR job on UK water buy
Freshfields leads for South Staffordshire seller Alinda Capital Partners after taking 2012 merger role
Partner Mel Sims relocates to DLA Piper's Doha practice
DLA Piper has announced that Mel Sims, a partner from the corporate practice group in London, is relocating to Doha, Qatar.
Andrew Carpenter takes leadership role in Addleshaw Goddard's International Division
Andrew Carpenter has been appointed divisional managing partner for a newly created Addleshaw Goddard International Division.
Iglo GC plans exit after six years at Birds Eye owner
Iglo Group general counsel Anthony Barratt is set to leave the Birds Eye owner later this year as the private equity-owned business kicks off a search for a replacement.
Greenberg Traurig and Macfarlanes deliver £1 City Link sale to Better Capital
Mayer Brown wins pitch to guide courier group’s management as UK and US firms clinch advisory roles
DLA Piper expands London corporate group
DLA Piper has announced that Rob Salter and Anu Balasubramanian will be joining as partners in the London corporate group.
US pair lead as Permira and HgCapital funds raise £4bn
US firms Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson and Proskauer Rose have advised on a duo of funds amassing close to £4bn that indicate the mixed success of private equity houses’ fundraising efforts.
Hogan Lovells advises Promon International on follow-on equity investment in DeepFlex
Hogan Lovells has advised Promon International in negotiating and documenting a follow-on equity investment in DeepFlex to fund a manufacturing centre in Brazil.
Betfair wagers on Freshfields as £910m CVC takeover bid snubbed
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has won the lead role acting for Betfair in relation to a £910m takeover bid from private equity group CVC Capital Partners.
Walker Morris advises NorthEdge Capital on its investment in Help-Link
Corporate lawyers from Walker Morris have advised private equity firm NorthEdge Capital on its investment in Help-Link.
Equity Capital Markets Update — Q1 2013 download
Olswang has released its Equity Capital Markets Update for quarter one of 2013.
Latham and Joelson Wilson at wheel on £300m Addison Lee sale
Latham, Linklaters and Joelson Wilson have advised on Carlyle Group’s purchase of London minicab group Addison Lee, a deal reported to be worth £300m.
Freshfields and Hengeler lead as CVC seals €3.1bn German buyout
Freshfields and Hengeler have taken lead roles on CVC Capital Partners’ €3.1bn acquisition of energy metering group Ista from private equity rival Charterhouse.
Conyers Dill & Pearman wins awards at 2013 Asian Legal Business China event
Conyers Dill & Pearman has been named Offshore Legal Firm of the Year at the 2013 Asian Legal Business China Awards.
Number Crunching: Clifford Chance, private equity practice
Last week’s news that Clifford Chance global head of private equity David Walker is leaving to join Latham & Watkins in London marks yet another major departure from the magic circle firm’s practice, following six previous key partner exits from the firm’s funds, tax or buyouts teams since 2009.
Jurisdiction update: Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Mauritius download
Conyers Dill & Pearman has released issue three of its Jurisdiction Update for 2013, covering Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Mauritius. Topics include insurance developments in Bermuda, a new ‘approved manager’ regime in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands master funds and more.
Mourant Ozannes advises on private equity fund for DPE Deutsche Private Equity
Mourant Ozannes has advised on a €350m private equity fund for DPE Deutsche Private Equity, a German investment firm.
Mishcon boosts private equity with duo of Dundas partners
Mishcon de Reya has beefed up its private equity practice with the hire of Dundas & Wilson partner duo Simon Sale and Nadim Meer.
Clifford Chance private equity chief Walker quits for Latham's City base
Clifford Chance global private equity head David Walker is set to join Latham & Watkins in a major hire for the US firm’s London office.
Olswang advises Hill Capital Partners and LDC on New World Pubco investment
Olswang’s leisure practice has advised Hill Capital Partners and LDC on the investment of £2.7m of development capital in New World Pubco.
Olswang acts for APEF 6 on acquisition of Redcats' children and family division
Olswang has acted for Alpha Private Equity Fund 6 on the acquisition of Redcats’ children and family division from Kering/PPR for €119m.
Corporate Practice Newswire — April 2013 download
Chadbourne & Parke has released the April 2013 edition of its Corporate Practice Newswire.
Private equity interest in luxury brands download
It may seem anomalous when consumer spending remains generally depressed, courtesy of macro-economic conditions, that the luxury goods market has remained comparatively resilient.
AIFMD: challenges and opportunities download
Emmanuelle Entringer and Bishr Shiblaq of Arendt & Medernach explain the impact of the AIFMD on fund managers in the Middle East and North Africa.
Private-equity/real-estate investments
Our real-estate and private-equity funds lawyers advise on all the aspects relating to the structuring and organisation of private-equity and real-estate funds, managers or advisers.
Hogan Lovells wins 'Private Equity Deal of the Year' award at Latin Lawyer event
Latin Lawyer recognises Hogan Lovells with ‘Private Equity Deal of the Year’ award.
Ashurst, SNR check out as Malmaison sells to Denver private equity group
Ashurst and SNR Denton took lead roles on the sale of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin to a US private equity group.
Taylor Wessing's private equity team advises on SitexOrbis acquisition
Taylor Wessing has advised on the acquisition of SitexOrbis’s mainland UK business from VPS Holdings by a newly formed company advised by investment firm Sullivan Street Partners.
Ashurst and Pinsents stick neck out for Tesco's £49m Giraffe buy
Ashurst and Pinsent Masons have advised as Tesco acquires restaurant chain Giraffe for £48.6m.
Hogan Lovells advises UK-based Arieso on sale to US company JDSU in deal worth $85m
Hogan Lovells has advised Arieso on its sale to JDSU.
Coller Capital expands with Slaughter and May hire
Private equity group Coller Capital has added a fourth in-house lawyer with the hire of Slaughter and May associate Giles Lawson.
OC continues hiring spree with addition of Eversheds partner
Osborne Clarke (OC) has hired former Eversheds UK corporate head Mark Spinner in a move that gifts the Bristol-headquartered firm its 50th London partner.
King & Wood Mallesons appoints Stephen Minns as chairman of Australian board
King & Wood Mallesons (Australia) appoints Stephen Minns as chairman of Australian board.
Simmons adds Nixon Peabody partner to Paris team
Simmons becomes second firm to benefit from the closure of Nixon Peabody’s Paris office, picking up a private equity partner.
Private equity
We offer a full range of services in the fields of private equity and venture capital. We are also one of the few law firms in Finland that can boast a first-rate fund formation practice.
Equity capital markets
Al Tamimi & Company has the leading IPO practice in the region.
Private equity
The Private Equity group advises both investors and companies worldwide. Curtis represents domestic and international funds, family offices, investment arms of financial institutions, and unfunded sponsors, as well as companies seeking growth capital or liquidity.
US firms win roles on $24bn Dell buyout in major post-crisis LBO
Debevoise & Plimpton, Hogan Lovells, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz have taken advisory roles on the $24.4bn (£15.5bn) leveraged buyout (LBO) of Dell, reported to be the biggest take-private since the financial crisis.
American legion
The private equity funds market in London has been raided and invaded by US firms of late, so what has been the impact?
Equity markets: taking the long-term view download
The Government has published its response to Professor John Kay’s review of UK equity markets and long-term decision making, which focused on changing the perceived culture of short-termism in the equity markets.
Addleshaws, Hogan Lovells, Links lead as Lloyds sells pub group to PE house
Addleshaw Goddard, Hogan Lovells and Linklaters all had roles on US private equity house Cerberus Capital Management’s £200m acquisition of pub group Admiral Taverns from Lloyds Banking Group.
EMW, Morgan Cole and Shoosmiths install Cambridge software group's MBO
EMW, Morgan Cole and Shoosmiths have all won headline roles as WestBridge Capital backs the £6m management buyout (MBO) of Cambridge-based Anglia Business Solutions in return for a 43 per cent stake in the business.
Recent developments regarding potential pension liabilities for private equity funds download
This Alert summarises recent rulings interpreting when private equity funds could have exposure for the qualified pension liabilities of a portfolio company.
CC and Linklaters lead as Carlyle and StanChart make Tanzanian investment
Clifford Chance has advised private equity outfit the Carlyle Group on its $210m (£132m) investment in Tanzania-based agricultural company Export Trading Group (ETG), with Linklaters and South African firm Webber Wentzel also acting for investors.
Weil Gotshal promotes last of Lovells private equity team to partnership
Weil Gotshal & Manges has promoted London lawyers Samantha McGonigle and Simon Lyell to its London private equity partnership six years after the trophy hire of their private equity team from Hogan Lovells legacy firm Lovells.
CMS revamps private equity group in wake of top-level departures
CMS has reacted to the departure of former private equity heads David Bresnick and Ted Cominos with a restructure of the group’s leadership.
Goodwin Procter leads for Advent on €8.5bn private equity fundraising
Goodwin Procter has advised private equity group Advent International on its latest fund, which has raised €8.5bn (£6.8bn) in one of the largest buyout fundraisings post-financial crisis.
Arendt strengthens corporate team with Linklaters hire
Luxembourg firm Arendt & Medernach has added to its corporate capabilities with the hire of a partner from Linklaters’ Luxembourg office, Laurent Schummer.
Magic circle trio joins Latham on €1.5bn private equity bid for German retailer
Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance and Linklaters are among the firms winning advisory roles on a joint €1.5bn (£1.2bn) bid for Germany’s Douglas Holding by private equity group Advent International and the high-street retailer’s founding family.
Bakers' global private equity head quits for King & Wood Mallesons
Baker & McKenzie’s global private equity head Mark McNamara is set to leave the firm to join King & Wood Mallesons in Sydney as private equity head.
Edwards Wildman wins Greek private equity mandate following CMS hire
Edwards Wildman and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have won roles advising on New York-based private equity group Paine & Partners’ investment into Greek-based irrigation company Eurodrip.
Bakers picks Hughes as fifth London-based practice group head
Baker & McKenzie has announced a raft of leadership changes, including the appointment of City partner Simon Hughes as chair of its global private equity group.
CC in front seat at Carlyle
The flurry of deals undertaken by private equity giant Carlyle this year has provided rich picking for a number of big firms
Keoghs plans ABS launch with private equity backing
North West firm Keoghs looks set to launch as an alternative business structure (ABS) in 2013 with external investment from a private equity house.
SJ Berwin and Paul Hastings among eight firms on Patron's €880m fund closing
SJ Berwin and US firm Paul Hastings have joined forces to lead private equity group Patron Capital through the closing of its latest fund.
Sun City
Our list of the summer’s big deals shows how London law firms kept busy with work from Asia as well as more familiar sources
Parabis set for expansion after SRA ABS approval
Insurance firm Parabis is set for a £50m cash injection after being granted an ABS licence by the SRA, allowing it to take private equity investment from Duke Street.
Clifford Chance and Linklaters among firms on Cinven's £465m pharma deal
Clifford Chance and Linklaters were part of a string of City firms advising on private equity group Cinven’s £465m acquisition of generic drugs company Mercury Pharma from HgCapital.
US quartet says cheese to Carlyle's $3.3bn Getty purchase
Davis Polk & Wardwell, Debevoise & Plimpton, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Weil Gotshal & Manges have all snapped up roles advising on the Carlyle Group’s acquisition of Getty Images from US private equity rival Hellman & Friedman.
O'Melveny and SJ Berwin join Burness on Lloyds' £1bn private equity sell-off
O’Melveny & Myers and SJ Berwin led alongside Scottish firm Burness on Lloyds Banking Group’s sale of £1.05bn of private-equity assets to secondary specialist Coller Capital.
Freshfields and Schoenherr log in for Carlyle's software sale
Clifford Chance, Duane Morris and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer joined Austrian firm Schoenherr advising on Swedish private equity outfit EQT Partners’ $270m (£172m) acquisition of IT company UC4 Software from the Carlyle Group.
Freshfields usurps Hogan Lovells on Biffa's £1.1bn debt restructuring
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has replaced Hogan Lovells to advise the senior lenders on the debt restructuring of waste management company Biffa, with Latham & Watkins and Linklaters also winning a role on the high-stakes negotiations.
Ashurst joins US duo as Axa PE backs French engineering MBO
Ashurst, Latham & Watkins and Weil Gotshal & Manges have all landed roles on the management buyout of French industrial engineering company Fives Group in a deal backed by Axa Private Equity (Axa PE).
O’Melveny tightens Coller ties with $5.5bn fund closing
O’Melveny & Myers and offshore firm Ogier have won roles advising private equity group Coller Capital on the closing of its $5.5bn (£3.5m) secondaries fund.
Kirkland partner leaves to launch PE team at Duane Morris
US firm Duane Morris is launching a private equity practice in Europe following the hire of Kirkland & Ellis partner Pierfrancesco Carbone.
Dewey partner losses hit 54 as private equity duo quits
Dewey & LeBoeuf has lost a further two City partners, with recently-recruited private equity duo Mark Davis and Russell Van Praagh quitting to join McDermott Will & Emery.
Quartet of firms win roles on Duke Street funeral homes deal
CMS Cameron McKenna, Hogan Lovells, Ropes & Gray and SJ Berwin have advised on a £37.5m acquisition by private equity house Duke Street.
Raft of firms advise on Terra Firma's acquisition of Garden Centre Group
Ashurst, Dundas & Wilson, Macfarlanes, McGrigors, Memery Crystal and SJ Berwin all won roles advising on the acquisition of the Garden Centre Group from Lloyds Banking Group by Guy Hands’ private equity house Terra Firma Capital Partners.
Former 'flying squad' member quits Camerons for Edwards Wildman
CMS Cameron McKenna’s international head of private equity Ted Cominos is to leave the firm to become a partner in the Chicago office of newly merged Edwards Wildman.
Clifford Chance and Slaughters lead as Carlyle offloads UK ATM business
Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May have been called in to assist in US private equity group Carlyle’s £650m sale of UK cash management business Talaris to Tokyo-listed Glory.
Parabis plans acquisitions with private equity cash
Insurance firm Parabis Group is set to receive a £50m war chest to fund up to five acquisitions by the end of this year through an investment from private equity house Duke Street.
Hogan Lovells and SJ Berwin advise on Parabis deal
Hogan Lovells and SJ Berwin are understood to have won roles advising on the acquisition of a stake in insurance law firm Parabis Group by Duke Street.
Nabarro takes Indian client through Aim IPO
Nabarro has advised an Indian biofuel producer on its £16m IPO on Aim.
Clifford Chance and Freshfields advise on MBO of Barclays private equity arm
Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer won advisory roles on the management buyout of Barclays Bank’s private equity arm.
Macfarlanes and Slaughters lead as Comet sells for £2
Macfarlanes and Slaughter and May have won key roles advising on Anglo-French electrical goods retailer Kesa’s sale of its 250 Comet stores to private equity house OpCapita.
Linklaters snares first fundraising role for Cinven
Linklaters’ funds team has secured its first key role on a fundraising for private equity house Cinven after winning the client from Ashurst.
Weil wins struggle for CC funds lawyer
Weil Gotshal & Manges has won the battle to hold on to star funds associate Stephen Fox after a secondment at private equity house Apax Partners threatened to stall his move from Clifford Chance to the US firm.
Linklaters advises on €5bn Cinven fundraising after usurping Ashurst
Linklaters’ funds team has won its first key role on a fundraising for private equity house Cinven after winning the client from Ashurst.
Former 3i GC takes on role at City of London Group
City of London Group (COLG) has appointed former 3i Group general counsel Tony Brierley as a non-executive director.
Jones Day aids Alcuin on Krispy Kreme buy
Jones Day lined up opposite Macfarlanes and Shoosmiths advising on the £25m acquisition of the UK business of Krispy Kreme by private equity house Alcuin Capital Partners.
Links guides Carlyle on Haier investment
Linklaters has advised Carlyle Group on its recent investment into Hong Kong-listed Haier Electronics, with the Chinese company turning to longstanding counsel DLA Piper.
Advent installs Weil Gotshal's Boston head as chief legal officer
Private equity house Advent International has hired Weil Gotshal & Manges private equity co-head James Westra as managing director and chief legal officer.
Clifford Chance joins roster of US firms on Securitas financing
A raft of US firms lined up alongside Clifford Chance to advise on a €393.5m mezzanine loan issued by Swedish alarm maker Securitas Direct to fund its buyout by two private equity houses.
Ashurst, Dickson Minto, Weil secure £579m ERM purchase
Ashurst, Dickson Minto and Weil Gotshal & Manges all landed roles on Charterhouse Capital Partners’ $950m (£579m) acquisition of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) from Bridgepoint Capital.
Norton Rose seals triple listing for mining outfit
Norton Rose capitalised on its expansion into Canada and Australia to guide Allied Gold Mining through a triple listing on the London, Toronto and Australian stock exchanges.
Clifford Chance star associate resigns in wake of funds team exit to Weil Gotshal
Clifford Chance funds associates Stephen Fox and David Irvine have quit the firm to join Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Kirkland, White & Case lead on Securitas sale
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case snatched key roles advising on EQT Funds’ SEK21 (£2.04m) sale of security products maker Securitas Direct to a private equity consortium.
Brodies, Burness join Bakers, Freshfields on £740m Barclays deal
Baker & McKenzie, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Scottish firms Brodies and Burness have advised on AXA Private Equity’s acquisition of a £740m portfolio of funds interests from Barclays.
Mills & Reeve takes Ubisense Group through its Aim debut
Mills & Reeve has advised technology company Ubisense Group on its oversubscribed Aim listing after winning the client last year in a competitive tender against City rivals.
Clifford Chance and Slaughters lead as Aviva sells RAC to Carlyle
Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May snatched lead advisory roles in The Carlyle Group’s £1bn acquisition of RAC from insurance giant Aviva, which was announced today.
Mayer Brown ally scoops 2011’s first Spanish IPO
Mayer Brown’s Spanish alliance partner Ramón y Cajal has landed the lead role on the first IPO to take place on the Madrid Stock Exchange this year.
Slaughters, Travers lead on £140m Umeco sale
Slaughter and May and Travers Smith have taken leading roles in Umeco’s sale of its supply chain business to a private equity buyer.
Dewey & LeBoeuf raids Taylor Wessing for UK private equity launch
Dewey & LeBoeuf has moved into the London private equity market with a double swoop on Taylor Wessing.
Montagu sticks with Macfarlanes for establishment of buyout fund
Macfarlanes has won an instruction acting for Montagu Private Equity on the creation of its e2.5bn (£2.25bn) pan-European buyout fund.
CC, Hogan Lovells, Travers act on Barclays’ acquisition of The Mill
Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells and Travers Smith secured the top mandates on Barclays Private Equity’s (BPE) £119m acquisition of post-production business The Mill.
Macfarlanes and SJ Berwin on either side of Wagamama sale
Macfarlanes and SJ Berwin have claimed the leading mandates for rival private equity houses on the £215m sale of noodle bar Wagamama.
Ropes edges into City PE space with DLA capture
Ropes & Gray has made a significant move into the London private equity sector with the hire of DLA Piper European private equity chief Will Rosen.
Trinity appoints SNR Denton partner as private equity head
Niche corporate firm Trinity International has expanded its team by appointing SNR Denton partner Hugh Naylor as head of private equity.
Former CC boss Cornell steps down from Terra Firma role
Former Clifford Chance managing partner Peter Cornell is to stand down from his position as chair of Terra Firma’s advisory committee.
Kirkland’s City office secures brace of deals for Bain Capital
Kirkland & Ellis has landed a pair of prime mandates acting for longstanding private equity client Bain Capital.
KKR turns to Bakers for advice on divestment of Seven Media
Baker & McKenzie has landed a mandate advising private equity powerhouse Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) on the sale of its stake in Seven Media Group (SMG) to West Australian Newspapers (WAN).
Linklaters scoops Carlyle buyout instruction
Linklaters has won the prize mandate acting for private equity house the Carlyle Group on its £450m acquisition of Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoAML), as well as the proposed merger with rival Associated Dental Practices (ADP).
Dewey, Linklaters and Slaughters handle Eskom’s $1.75bn bond offer
Dewey & LeBoeuf, Linklaters and Slaughter and May have all advised on South African state-owned electricity utility Eskom Holdings’ $1.75bn (£1.11bn) bond offer.
US firms’ hires prove private equity double acts provide key to big houses
Clients prefer to deal with established, tight-knit teams, says Gavriel Hollander
Links, Hengeler, Schoenherr act on Apax’s Takko buyout
Linklaters, Slaughter and May best friend Hengeler Mueller and Austrian duo Schoenherr and Wolf Theiss took the mandates on the e1.3bn (£1.1bn) sale of clothing retailer Takko by Advent International to Apax Partners.
Apax appoints Goldmans lawyer as first-ever general counsel
Apax Partners has concluded its 20-month search for a general counsel with the appointment of Simon Cresswell from Goldman Sachs.
Ashurst, Travers, SJ Berwin land Candover Partners divestment
Ashurst, SJ Berwin and Travers Smith secured the key mandates on the spinning off of Candover Investments’ private equity investment management division Candover Partners Ltd (CPL) and the subsequent investment into the new vehicle by private equity fund Pantheon.
Slaughters, Simpson, Olswang bag Chrysalis gig
Olswang, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Slaughter and May took the lead roles on the £107m buyout of music publisher Chrysalis to BMG, a joint venture established two years ago between German media group Bertelsmann and US private equity house KKR.
Britax purchase sees Ashurst act on its first buyout mandate for Nordic
Ashurst has landed its first buyout mandate for new client Nordic Capital since being appointed to the private equity house’s panel earlier this year.
Mayer and SJ Berwin oversee Apax IT divestments to Azini
Mayer Brown and SJ Berwin were the firms at the forefront on Apax Partners’ sale of 16 technology companies to Azini Capital.
CVC turns to Latham for £2.1bn Sunrise buyout
The London office of Latham & Watkins has completed its first mandate for private equity giant CVC Capital Partners.
Five firms in frame as Vue cinema chain is sold to Doughty Hanson
A quintet of firms led by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom have landed the prize mandates on the sale of the Vue cinema chain - the third largest in the UK - to private equity house Doughty Hanson.
Ashurst and DLA Piper land massive Coal India listing
Ashurst and DLA Piper have secured roles advising on the international issues surrounding what is believed to be India’s largest-ever IPO.
CC, Sullivan lead the pack on sale of Brit Insurance
Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell head a bevy of leading firms with roles on Brit Insurance’s £888m sale to private equity houses Apollo Management and CVC Capital Partners.
CC and Sullivan take lead roles on Brit Insurance buy-out
Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell head a bevy of leading firms with roles on Brit Insurance’s £888m sale to private equity houses Apollo and CVC.
A&L Goodbody and Fried Frank join CC on Permira acquisition
A&L Goodbody, Clifford Chance and Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson have landed the mandates advising private equity house Permira on its acquisition of a majority stake in Irish healthcare equipment manufacturer Creganna.
CC and Freshfields land roles on £1.3bn AZ Electronic IPO
Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have bagged roles on what could become one of the biggest private equity- backed initial public offerings (IPO) of 2010.
PE house goes Weil for in-house role
Private equity house Blackstone Group has beefed up its in-house legal offering with the appointment of corporate associate Geoffrey Bailhache from Weil Gotshal & Manges.
Camerons, Travers drive 3i’s parking company sale to ACC
CMS Cameron McKenna and Travers Smith have won roles on 3i’s secondary sale of NSL Services Group to ACC Capital Partners.
Hammonds advises on Christchurch purchase
Hammonds has advised private equity buy-and-build specialist Sovereign Capital on its acquisition of brain injury care specialist Christchurch Court.
Debevoise beefs up London practice with Travers hire
US firm Debevoise & Plimpton has expanded its London private equity practice with the hire of Travers Smith partner David Innes.
CC, Milbank and Skadden score Permira telecom deal
Clifford Chance, Milbank Tweed Hadley McCloy and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom have landed the key roles on private equity house Permira’s acquisition of Asia Broadcast Satellite holding company Kingsbridge.
CC, Mayer Brown advise on Shell’s oil refinery divestment to Klesch
Clifford Chance and Mayer Brown have advised on the sale of a Royal Dutch Shell refinery in Germany to private equity house Klesch & Co.
Links and Weil advise on £2bn sale of RBS's credit card arm
Linklaters and Weil Gotshal & Manges bagged the leading roles on the £2bn sale of a majority stake in RBS’s Global Merchant Services arm to private equity houses Advent International and Bain Capital.
Private equity houses set sights on LPOs and higher investment returns
Investors stick to what they know rather than backing law firms.
White & Case takes on listing for AFI Development
White & Case has advised Russian property developer AFI Development on a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Ashurst, Ropes and SullCrom advise on £1bn Ontex sale
Ashurst, Ropes & Gray and Sullivan & Cromwell have scored major roles on one of the largest European private equity buyouts of the year - the €1.2bn (£1bn) sale of Belgian manufacturing company Ontex to Goldman Sachs PIA and TPG Capital.
CC signs on for Sandpiper Group supermarket sale
Clifford Chance is representing property developer the Sandpiper Group in the sale of five supermarkets to Waitrose in the Channel Islands.
Farrers and Bordens team up on golden deal
Farrer & Co and Canadian firm Borden Ladner Gervais have acted on a rare secondary investment in the AIM market.
TPG turns to Cravath for hire of general counsel
Cravath Swaine & Moore corporate partner Ronald Cami has joined private equity house TPG Capital as general counsel.
Davis Polk, Slaughters and Norton Rose take on £1bn Jupiter IPO
Davis Polk & Wardwell, Norton Rose, and Slaughter and May have landed leading roles on Jupiter Asset Management’s proposed £1bn IPO.
Ashurst, Simpson Thacher lead on Candover takeover
Ashurst and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have bagged leading roles on the proposed takeover of private equity firm Candover by Canadian pension fund Alberta Investment Management Company (Aimco).
CC, Weil secure Warburg Pincus’s £200m acquisition of Poundland
Clifford Chance and Weil Gotshal & Manges have taken prime roles on the all-equity sale of Poundland to US-based private equity house Warburg Pincus.
CC, Cleary gear up for e4.5bn Volkswagen capital raising
Clifford Chance and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton have secured prize roles on one of Europe’s biggest capital raisings of recent times - Volkswagen’s e4.5bn (£3.9bn) rights issue.
Money Oriented
China’s private equity market is presenting both opportunities and challenges for international funds as the domestic players make their presence felt in an increasingly fertile environment.
Camerons parachutes in private equity 'flying squad'
CMS Cameron McKenna has emphasised its commitment to growing its emerging markets presence with the recruitment of a seven-strong private equity team that was once part of Linklaters CEE ‘flying squad’.
City firms net main roles on sale of online fashion store
Olswang, Slaughter and May and Withers have won leading roles on the £350m sale of online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter to Swiss luxury goods group Richemont.
Macfarlanes leads on Hermes- Gartmore private equity tie-up
Macfarlanes, Simmons & Simmons and Travers Smith have bagged the mandates on the merger of the private equity arms of investment managers Gartmore and Hermes.
City firms tie up Yorkshire private equity transaction
Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper and Hammonds have completed an all-Yorkshire private equity transaction for Phoenix Equity Partners.
Egorov equity partners trouser £5m profit shares
Equity partners at Moscow-based Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners pocketed profit shares of on average e5.64m (£5.12m) in the 2009 financial year.
A&O, Travers set to clean up in sale of swine flu soap manufacturer
Allen & Overy (A&O) and Travers Smith have continued to reap the benefit of the upturn in private equity buyouts after acting on the sale of swine flu soap manufacturer Deb Group.
Lovells drives through LVG sale for Kelso
Lovells has advised private equity house Kelso Place Asset Management on its acquisition of a company that owns a driving school just days after it went into administration.
Links and SJ Berwin lead on CIC's Apax investment
Linklaters and SJ Berwin have claimed key roles for sovereign wealth fund Chinese Investment Corporation’s (CIC) $956m (£611m) investment in Apax Partners.
Ashurst, CC surf private equity revival with sale of LGC Holdings
Ashurst and Clifford Chance have benefited from the mini-revival of the private equity M&A market by landing lead roles on the sale of LGC Holdings to Bridgepoint.
Addleshaws, Cuatrecasas, Herbies, Salans, Uría bag HgCapital portfolio
Addleshaw Goddard, Cuatrecasas, Herbert Smith, Salans and Uría Menéndez have won mandates on HgCapital’s latest renewable energy investments.
CC and Slaughters score main roles on New Look’s £650m IPO
Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May have been handed the mandates to advise on New Look’s IPO in a deal that is expected to raise £650m for the company.
Warburg calls on CC for advice on Survitec buy
Clifford Chance has scored a lead role on Warburg Pincus’s £280m acquisition of safety and defence equipment manufacturer Survitec from fellow private equity firm Montagu.
Candover GC takes on wider COO role
Candover Partners general counsel Philip Price’s role has been expanded to include the remit of chief operating officer.
Clifford Chance and Slaughters lead on New Look IPO
Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May have been handed the mandates to advise on New Look’s IPO in a deal that is expected to raise £650m for the company.
DLA and Travers lead as CPA Global sells stake to private equity house
Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, Ogier and Travers Smith led the way on a £440m investment by private equity house Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) in legal process outsourcer CPA Global.
Weil and SJ Berwin advise on Duke Street's disposal of Xafinity
Weil Gotshal & Manges has bagged a role advising Advent International on the £190m acquisition of pension and employment benefit group Xafinity from Duke Street Capital.
CC snubbed as KKR turns to Simpson Thacher on Pets at Home deal
Clifford Chance has lost out to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett on Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ (KKR) £955m buyout of retailer Pets at Home, with partner Adam Signy giving M&A advice to the US private equity house.
Focus: Private Equity - Say hello to good buyouts
Although no one is banking on a return to the boom of 2006, the general consensus is that, at least as far as the buyout market is concerned, 2010 is a time to believe
Camerons, DLA Piper brought in on Lloyds’ £400m bid forCPA
CMS Cameron McKenna and DLA Piper have scored lead roles advising Lloyds TSB’s private equity arm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) on its £400m bid for outsourcing company CPA Global.
Links sees through Goldshield purchase for HgCapital-led MBO
Linklaters has guided private equity client HgCapital to success in a convoluted battle to buy generic drugs company Goldshield Group.
Egression therapy
The downturn has made it harder for private equity funds to exit their investments. David Baylis and Ian Moore list the options
Ropes goes head-to-head with Kirkland on Bain work
Kirkland & Ellis’s core relationship with Bain Capital will come under threat when fellow US firm Ropes & Gray launches a UK office, as first revealed on The Lawyer.com (22 October).
Simpson Thacher names new KKR link
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett acquisition finance veteran Tony Keal is retiring at the end of this calendar year, with the firm nominating recently promoted partner Ian Barratt to take over the key Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) relationship in London.
Permira calls on CC for spinoff Avalon’s first investment
Clifford Chance has underscored its relationship with Permira, advising the private equity house on a £225m deal to take life insurer Just Retirement off of AIM.
Signy plays key role as Simpson Thacher advises Blackstone on Broadgate deal
Former Clifford Chance heavyweight Adam Signy has scored his first major deal since joining Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, advising Blackstone Group on its acquisition of the Broadgate estate.
Equity capital markets provide much-needed work in real estate
A select group of firms are using established relationships to tap into fresh seams.
Wolf Theiss, Hasche Sigle see through FutureLAB sale
Wolf Theiss and CMS Hasche Sigle have scored lead roles advising on BC Partners’ e300m (£263.69m) acquisition of medical diagnostic company FutureLAB.
Clifford Chance steals a march on Links over Montagu sell-off
Clifford Chance has muscled in on Linklaters’ client Montagu Private Equity by acting on a rare leveraged buyout in Germany.
Simpson Thacher prepares KKR for IPO spree
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is understood to be advising long-standing client Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) on the flotation of portfolio company Avago Technologies on the New York Stock Exchange.
Pinsents, Eversheds scoop lead roles on Viking deal
Eversheds and Pinsent Masons have lined up on opposite sides of a rare private equity deal, with the former advising the vendor and the latter the buyer of offshore oil and gas company Viking Moorings.
Kirkland and Sidley take charge of Bain finance deal
Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin have scored lead roles on Bain Capital’s cash injection into Chinese retailer Gome Electrical Appliances.
Ashurst muscles in on CC’s Candover relationship as group names first GC
Candover has linked up with Ashurst after decades of dealings with Clifford Chance.
Burness, BLP called in on BlueGem bank project
Scottish firm Burness and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have been handed mandates in private equity group BlueGem’s investment in Panmure Gordon, the loss-making investment bank.
Private Equity Special Report: Emission impossible
The Government’s efforts to reduce companies’ carbon emissions will have a far-reaching effect on private equity funds. By Sue Woodman
Private Equity Special Report: Pipe dream
As the usual investors in public companies dry up along with the market, now’s the time for Pipes to come into their own.
Cads offers less slices of equity pie
Cadwalader hopes fewer shares of greater value will prove more attractive to partners
CC, Macfarlanes, Travers secure Bridgepoint-Hermes mandate
A trio of UK firms has won roles advising on private equity house Bridgepoint’s appointment as manager of Hermes Private Equity’s funds.
Ashurst and S&W scoop Cairn Energy share placing mandates
Ashurst and Shepherd & Wedderburn (S&W) have led the advice on Cairn Energy’s £116m share placing.
Dentons helps raise cash for African power projects
Skadden advises American Apparel on Lion’s share
Two US firms have secured the lead roles on American Apparel’s sale of an 18 per cent stake to private equity house Lion Capital.
