Mergers & Acquisitions
In such pivotal transactions it is important to be able to rely on the advice and commercial sense of experts who have been there before and who know what it takes to get the deal across the line.
Our corporate team represents buyers, sellers, investors and lenders across the full spectrum of corporate transactions. Working closely with colleagues in our tax, finance, commercial and employment teams, we deliver legal solutions that help our clients reach their business objectives. A number of our partners focus on specific industry sectors, enabling us to provide an even greater depth of expertise and give our clients an additional commercial edge.
With a strong international dimension we can advise on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, instructing and co-ordinating law firms and other professionals in different jurisdictions so that our clients enjoy a seamless service.
While we have the expertise, track record and resources to service very large-scale transactions, and our clients range from entrepreneurs to quoted multinational corporations, we have particular strength and an established reputation in the mid-market.
If you have any questions or queries please call Julian on +44 (0)20 3036 7372 or email jlewis@fladgate.com
Chambers UKHas a good reputation on cross-border M&A transactions. “The advice is clear, accurate and dynamic.”
Mergers & Acquisitions team
Fladgate LLP’s ‘very good’ department provides ‘first-rate service’. Practice head Grant Gordon advised the shareholders of Swansea City FC on their sale of a majority stake in the club to Swansea Football. Amy Collins is strong in corporate real estate: she acted for Aldgate Tower Investments on its £346m sale to a joint venture between China Life and Brookfield Property Partners, and assisted Sun Capital Assets with its joint venture with Scarborough Group International to purchase a 50% stake in the Sheffield Digital Campus development. Alex Kaufmann, who is fluent in French, German and Romanian as well as English, advised dbg on its sale to Merkle, and assisted Newson Gale with its sale to Hoerbiger.
Legal 500
The ‘very smart, efficient’ Graham Spitz advised Privet Capital on its purchase of Cash Processing Solutions, while hotels and leisure expert Julian Lewis, who is ‘very knowledgeable, efficient and client-focused’, acted for Haché on its acquisition by Hush. The ‘strong, bright, very experienced’ Ian Brent ‘fights his clients’ corner well’ and is ‘very knowledgeable’, particularly in the recruitment sector; energy and mining expert Nigel Gordon is ‘exceedingly diligent’. ‘Very knowledgeable, client-focused’ associate David Baverstock shows ‘good attention to detail’.
Legal 500
Well positioned to advise on lower mid-market deals on behalf of corporates, investors and entrepreneurs. Adept at handling both domestic and international transactions. “They are excellent: proactive and good turnaround times.” “Each solicitor has been thorough, rapid with replies and fair with billings.” Represented Diversified Business Communications in its acquisition of Prysm Professional. Grant Gordon is a key contact.
Chambers UK
Fladgate LLP’s department recruited Graham Spitz from Locke Lord LLP, as well as Chris Chrysanthou and Nigel Gordon from Fasken Martineau LLP. Amy Collins advised the shareholders of GSH Group on its £53m sale to ISS. Luke Morris acted for Privet Capital on its acquisition of Pyser-SGI Group and Aeromet.
Legal 500
International-flavoured practice handling a wide range of transactions, with recent experience in the technology, financial services and real estate sectors. Notable representation of hotels and developers. “Excellent and client-driven with senior partners leading from the front in the management and delivery of transaction advice.” “Outstanding value for the quality and depth of legal advice provided.”
Chambers UK
“What stands out is the interpersonal relationship and feeling that you are working with peers and friends but also professionals.” Represented various offshore groups in the acquisitions of Camden Lock Market and 50% of shares in Camden’s Stables Market. Advised AIM-listed Mentum on its £27 million acquisition of the gold and copper exploration and development operations of Robust Resources in the Kyrgyz Republic. Grant Gordon is head of the corporate department and a key contact.
Chambers UK
Fladgate LLP’s substantial practice was further developed by the additions of Neil Vickers from Dentons, and Graham Spitz from Locke Lord LLP. “Tough when needed, and knowing what issues to concede”, the team acted for Mentum on the £27m acquisition of the gold and copper exploration and development operations of Robust Resources. Grant Gordon heads the department, which includes recommended practitioners Paul Airley and David Robinson.
Legal 500
The sizeable team at Fladgate LLP was further bolstered by a number of new hires. It serves a broad client base, with recent deals spanning the hotels and leisure, financial services and healthcare sectors. International work features heavily, where the group’s dual-qualified lawyers such as Alex Kaufmann (Germany and England) are well placed to advise. Practice head Grant Gordon recently advised US-based Flagship Foods on its first European acquisition.
Legal 500
This firm focuses its practice towards internationally active entrepreneurial clients, completing deals across Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. The group is well known for its work in publishing and other media but also has strength in other sectors like real estate, leisure and resources. Their ability to get deals done is well recognised by clients, who comment: “They are clever guys, but their great attribute is their ability to find a solution when problems arise”.
Chambers UK
Clients praise this corporate department’s approach to a transaction: “The team does not delay everything by getting lost in legal principles and irrelevant detail – they stick to the deal”. The firm has strong international links with Germany and Israel. It recently advised Israel-based company Dmatek, a provider of people monitoring technologies, on its takeover by Francisco Partners.
Chambers UK
Well positioned to advise on lower mid-market deals on behalf of corporates, investors and entrepreneurs. Adept at handling both domestic and international deals and calls upon strong additional resources in tax, employment and finance practices to service complex transactions. “They have a very balanced, commercial point of view and are practical in trying to get the deal done.”
Chambers UK
Acted for the owner of Aldgate Tower Investments on the £346 million sale of the entire share capital in the company to a joint venture comprising Brookfield Property Partners and China Life. Served as lead advisers to shareholders in the holding company of Swansea City FC, following the sale of a majority stake in the club to US investors. Department head Grant Gordon is a key contact.
Chambers UK
- Krannich Solar – acquisition of their first solar PV project in the UK at Moat Farm in Nottinghamshire from Greenswitch Ltd, a solar project development company. Krannich have an existing portfolio of solar PV projects in Germany, France and the US.
- Handpicked Companies Ltd (owners of online retailer The Handpicked Collection) – advising the major shareholders on its sale to News UK.
- Mentum Inc – £27m acquisition of the gold and copper exploration and development operations of ASX-listed Robust Resources Ltd in the Kyrgyz Republic. AIM listed Mentum is an investment group specialising in the commodities sector.
- Splendid Hotel Group – reorganisation of a portfolio of eight branded and two unbranded central London hotels whereby one partner of Splendid Hotel Group acquired five hotels personally from the partnership and five were sold to the Redefine International Group which is an associate of one of South Africa’s largest listed property companies. The transaction was valued at £180m.
- Sanguine Hospitality – acquisition by Interstate Hotels & Resorts of Sanguine’s management platform. Sanguine is a Liverpool based hospitality development and ownership company.
- Flagship Food Group – acquisition of Atlantic Foods Group Ltd. The enlarged group supplies frozen, shelf-stable and fresh products into both retail and food service markets and also offers food packaging and logistic services and following completion had a combined turnover in excess of US$300m.
- Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners and other investors – disposal of the award winning Hotel Saint–Barth Isle de France to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury products group.
- Toumaz Ltd – £32m acquisition of Frontier Silicon (Holdings) Ltd, a leading supplier of semiconductor, module and software solutions for digital radio and connected audio systems, together with the related placing of 285.6m new Ordinary Shares at a placing price of 10.25 pence, raising £29.25m before expenses.
- Esporta – disposal of a 13-club package of health and fitness clubs to Virgin Active. The deal involved the sale of seven health and fitness clubs in the UK as well as Esporta’s Spanish subsidiary.
- Candover – acquisition of the Pandrol group of companies for £165m from Candover, a leading provider of equity for large European buyouts.
- The Random House Group Ltd – various acquisitions including the acquisition of 90% of Virgin Books (together with the right to use the Virgin brand in the field of book, audio and digital worldwide), the majority shareholding in BBC Books, the publishing list of C W Daniel Company Ltd, a 50 % shareholding in Mainstream Publishing Ltd as well as the formation of a new book publishing joint venture with Time Out Guides and the merger of Random House South Africa and Struik Publishers.
- Primary Health Care Centres Ltd – advising the owners on its sale to Primary Health Properties Plc, the UK’s leading investor in modern primary healthcare facilities. At the time of the sale PHCC owned 11 primary care properties.
- BidTimes Plc – acquisition, by this AIM listed company of PowerHouse Energy Inc. and its subsequent re-admission to AIM (as PowerHouse Energy Group Plc). The market capitalisation of the group on admission was £49m.
- Moeller Group – disposal of its Busbar Trunking Systems Division to Siemens Automation and Drives.
- Lipsy – £17.4m disposal by the shareholders of this fashion brand to clothing retailer, Next.
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