Recent Transactions

Advising JerseyCo, the indirect Holdco of Alpha Auto Group, a Canadian automotive dealership group, on its acquisition of Lookers Plc, a leading UK automotive dealership group

World Co., LTD. ("World"), a regional staffing company in Japan, acquired Brain Group (Staff Brain Co., Ltd. and Technobrain Co., Ltd.), regional staffing companies in Japan

Advising and acting as sponsor to Inchcape plc, the leading independent global automotive distributor, on its proposed Class 1 acquisition of Derco, the largest independent automotive distributor by volume in Latin America

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, a leading US independent craft brewery

Advised Henkel on its brand divestment program (including the sale of the General, Right Guard and Dry Idea brands)

Advised Siris Capital, a private equity firm focused on the technology sector, on its recommended 180p cash offer for Equiniti Group PLC, a technology-led services and payments specialist

Advising Arcland Sakamoto, a leading owner and operator of large home centers, on the acquisition of LIXIL VIVA, a leading owner and operator of large home centers and a listed subsidiary of LIXIL Group, a leading Japanese manufacturer of building and housing materials

Advised GlaxoSmithKline plc (“GSK”), the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company, on the divestiture of the Mexico rights to Hinds, Capent and Eclipsol to Mexico-based Grisi Hnos

Advised Inchcape, a leading global independent multi-brand automotive distributor, on its acquisition of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car and private vans distribution operations in Colombia from Daimler Colombia

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of New Belgium Brewing, a leading US independent craft brewery

Advised CME Group, Inc., the operator of a leading global derivatives marketplace, on the structured sale of its 25% equity stake in Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad to Bursa Malaysia Berhad

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin and one of Australasia’s leading food and beverage companies, on the sale of its Specialty Cheese division to Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world  

Advised Dairy Crest Group plc, a producer of leading British food brands and value-added ingredients, on a recommended cash offer for its entire issued share capital from Saputo Inc, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world

Advised GlaxoSmithKline plc ("GSK"), the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company, on the combination of GSK's and Pfizer's Consumer Health businesses to create a world-leading Joint Venture

Advised WH Smith plc, one of the UK’s leading retailers, on the acquisition of InMotion Entertainment, the market leading retailer of digital accessories in US airports

Advised Electra Private Equity plc, a UK-listed private equity investment trust, on its strategic review and subsequent sale of the larger non-controlled assets of Photobox and Knight Square to funds managed by Lexington Partners

Advised IFF, a leading innovator of specialty ingredients, on its acquisition of Frutarom, creating a global leader in Taste, Scent and Nutrition

Advised Danone, a leading global food & beverage company, on renewing its strategic partnership with Yakult, a global leader in probiotic beverages, as well as the sale of part of its stake in Yakult

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin, on its acquisition of a strategic stake in Remedy Kombucha, Australia’s leading producer and distributer of kombucha beverages

Advised Mãe Terra Produtos Naturais Ltda., Brazil’s leading Natural & Organic food products company, on its sale to The Unilever Group

Advised Bupa, a leading international healthcare group, on the increase of its stake in Bupa Arabia, one of the largest health insurance providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Advised Tesco plc, the UK’s leading retailer, on its merger with Booker Group plc, the UK’s leading food wholesaler, to create the UK’s leading food business

Advised Inchcape PLC, a global leader in automotive retail and distribution, on the acquisition of a multi-country scale distribution business in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina for $290m (approximately £234m)

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Australian wine business Fine Wine Partners to Accolade Wines, a portfolio company of CHAMP Private Equity

Advised Tesco plc, a listed FTSE 100 retailer, on its sale of the Giraffe casual dining restaurant chain to the Boparan Private Office, the private investment vehicle of the British businessman Ranjit Boparan

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Everyday Cheese business to Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, a listed Australian dairy company controlled by the Canadian dairy player Saputo

Advised Modern Star, Australia and New Zealand’s #1 supplier of education resources and educational toys, on the sale of 90% of its shares to Navis Capital, a leading private equity group focused on investments in South and Southeast Asia

Advised the management buy-in team on the acquisition by leading institutional investors of AA Limited from Acromas and simultaneous listing on the London Stock Exchange

Advised Tesco plc, a listed FTSE 100 retailer, on its acquisition of a significant minority shareholding in Lazada, the leading online general merchandise retailer in South East Asia

Advised Tesco PLC on the formation of a joint venture with China Resources Enterprise, a Hong Kong listed, Chinese retailer, to create the leading multi-format retailer in China

Advised GlaxoSmithKline, the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer company, on the sale of its nutritional drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena to Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd

Advised Inchcape plc, the leading independent international automotive distributor and retailer, on the acquisition of Trivett Automotive Group, the leading luxury and premium automotive group in Australia

Advised the Special Committee of the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Athene Holding Ltd. in connection with the purchase of non-cash investment assets of AP Alternative Assets L.P.

Advised Lion on the acquisition of Little World Beverages, Australia’s largest listed brewer and one of the country’s leading players in the Craft beer segment

Advised Virgin Money, a financial services provider, on the acquisition of Northern Rock, a UK retail mortgage and savings bank, from UK Financial Investments Ltd, which manages the UK Government’s investments in financial institutions

Advised Close Brothers plc, an independent financial services group, on the sale of its Cayman based offshore business to Intertrust Group Holdings SA

Advised TOWER Australia Group Limited, the largest mono-line life insurance company in Australia, in relation to the offer from The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited to acquire all of the shares in TOWER that it does not already own by way of a scheme of arrangement

Advised GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer company, on its acquisition of Maxinutrition Group Holdings Limited, a UK based sports nutrition business, from Darwin Private Equity

Advised the shareholders of Camelot – Cadbury, De La Rue, Fujitsu, Royal Mail and Thales – on the sale of their shareholdings in Camelot, the operator of the UK National Lottery, to Ontario Teachers’ Pensions Plan

Advised Lion Nathan, a leading brewery in Australia, on the sale of its remaining 54% stake to Kirin Holdings, a leading beverage company in Japan

Advised NewSmith Capital, an independent investment management group, on a strategic agreement with UniCredit whereby UniCredit will acquire NewSmith’s Financial Products credit advisory business, assume a 5% stake in NewSmith Capital and become an investor in NewSmith funds

Advised Nikko Cordial, one of Japan’s largest securities firms, on its share exchange with Citigroup Inc., which resulted in Citigroup’s acquisition of the remaining 32% of Nikko Cordial that it did not already own

Advised Alliance Boots plc, the leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group, on a proposal regarding an offer for the company from a consortium comprising of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Ltd. and Stefano Pessina

(25.1% stake)
Advised The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., the largest electronic equity securities market in the United States, on the acquisition of a 25.1% stake in London Stock Exchange plc

Advised AEA Technology plc, a UK provider of Rail and Environmental services, on the sale of a portfolio of non-core businesses to Coller Capital. The sale formed part of a wider financial restructuring plan

held by Royal & Sun Alliance
Advised Royal & Sun Alliance on the sale of its 21.5% shareholding in Rothschilds Continuation Holdings AG to Jardine Strategic Holdings