Slaughters forfeits £11m fee

Slaughters, which would have got an investment bank-style contingency fee of £12m had Osmond closed the deal, settled last Friday for just £1m after Osmond's offer fell at the first hurdle.

A source close to the deal said Slaughters was happy with £1m for three months work. Another source confirmed this was still a good return for Slaughters' efforts.

The Lawyer understands that if Osmond had defeated 6C's merger plans, Slaughters could have won a significant uplift from £1m. But the hostile takeover bid was overwhelmingly rejected.

This was the first time Osmond has turned to Slaughters since his decision to instruct Clifford Chance for the first time last year.

Slaughters declined to comment.