Recent Transactions

Advised and provided a fairness opinion to the Special Committee of the Independent Directors of OTF II, a specialty finance company focused on originating and making loans to, and making debt and equity investment in, technology related companies, specifically software, based primarily in the US, on its merger with OTF 

Advising Tate & Lyle plc, a UK-listed specialty food and beverage ingredients company, on the acquisition of CP Kelco, a US-based provider of pectin, speciality gums and other nature-based ingredients, from J.M. Huber Corporation

Advised Brown-Forman, the largest American-owned spirits and wine company, on its sale of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards to The Duckhorn Portfolio

Advising Parthenon Capital, a financial services & technology focused private equity firm, on its acquisition of Global Payment’s Gaming Services Division, a leading provider of on-site and digital payment processing services to companies in the gaming industry, for $415mm

Advised Whirlpool Corporation on its announced acquisition of InSinkErator, the world’s largest manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use from Emerson Electric for cash consideration of $3.0 billion

Advising Dama Financial, the nation’s largest provider of access to banking and payment solutions for the cannabis industry, on its acquisition of GrowFlow Corp, a leading business management and compliance software platform for cannabis retailers, cultivators, processors, and distributors

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 Aquiline Capital Partners on its acquisition of Quicken, the best-selling personal finance software in the U.S., from H.I.G. Capital

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

Advised International Flavors & Fragrances on the divestiture of its European-based Fruit Preparation business to Frulact Serviços Partilhados, SA

Advised Abacus Health Products, Inc., a leader in over-the-counter (“OTC”) topical products combining active pharmaceutical ingredients with cannabidiol (“CBD”) hemp extract, on its sale to the Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., a market leader in hemp-derived CBD wellness products. 

Advising IFF, a global leader in flavors and fragrances, on its merger with DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences Division, creating a clear global leader in the specialty ingredients sector

Advised WH Smith PLC, one of the UK’s leading retailers, on the acquisition of Marshall Retail Group, a market leading US travel retailer with operations across airport, resort and tourist locations, from Brentwood Associates, a consumer-focused private equity firm

Advised TT International, a leading independent asset management firm focused on managing high alpha, high conviction active management strategies for institutional investors, on its sale to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

Advised Total System Services, Inc. (TSYS), a provider of payment processing, merchant services and related payment services, on its merger with Global Payments Inc., a payment technology company focused on merchant acquiring and software solutions

Advised The Laundress Inc., a laundry and home cleaning products brand, on its sale to Unilever, a British-Dutch consumer goods company

Advised Primal Nutrition, makers of Primal Kitchen branded condiments, dressings and sauces, on its sale to Kraft Heinz

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 and acted as sponsor to Greencore Group plc, a leading international manufacturer of convenience foods based in Ireland, on the disposal of its entire US business to Hearthside Foods Solutions

Advised Walmart Inc. on its new, long term credit card program agreement with Capital One Financial Corporation

Advised Total System Services, a provider of payment processing, merchant services and related payment services, on acquiring Cayan, a payment technology company focused on integrated solutions and merchant acquiring

Advised Equiniti Group plc, a UK based specialist technology outsourcer providing non-discretionary payment and administration services, on the acquisition of Wells Fargo's Shareowner Services business, and acted as joint sponsor to Equiniti's associated £122 million rights issue

Advised Greencore Group plc, a leading international manufacturer of convenience foods based in Ireland, on the proposed acquisition of Peacock Foods, a manufacturing partner for consumer packaged goods companies in the US.

Advised SUPERVALU, Inc., one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the US, on the sale of its Save-A-Lot business, a leading hard-discount grocery retailer in the U.S., to an affiliate of Onex Corporation 

Advised Airopack Technology Group, developer of a revolutionary all-plastic dispenser, on a €120 million debt and equity investment from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, and the concurrently announced proposed acquisition of the 50% stake it does not already own in Airolux AG, its joint venture with Resilux NV

Advised International Medical Group, Inc., a leader in the global insurance and assistance services market, on its sale to ABRY Partners

Advised Tate & Lyle plc, a leading provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage and other industries, on the re-alignment of Eaststarch C.V., its 50:50 corn wet milling joint venture in Europe with Archer Daniels Midland Company

Advised the Special Committee of GFI Group Inc. on its sale to BGC Partners, Inc.

Advised the Independent Committee of the Board of Directors of Voya Financial, Inc. in connection with Voya Financial, Inc.’s repurchase of 7.7mm shares (aggregate repurchase of $300mm) from ING Groep N.V.

Advised Validus Holdings, Ltd., a leading Bermuda-based provider of reinsurance, insurance, and insurance linked securities management, on its acquisition of Western World Insurance Group, Inc., a specialty US commercial insurer

Advised Reckitt Benckiser, a leading consumer goods manufacturer, on the acquisition of the global rights to the K-Y brand, a leader in intimate lubricants

Advised Tesco plc, a listed FTSE 100 retailer, on the sale of a substantive part of Fresh & Easy’s operating business to YFE Holdings, Inc, an affiliate of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC

Advised Fifth Street Finance Corp., a specialty finance company with approximately $2 billion of assets under management, on the acquisition of Healthcare Finance Group, LLC, a specialty lender providing asset-based lending and term loan products to the healthcare industry

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 The Hartford, a leading provider of insurance and wealth management services, on the divestiture of its Individual Life Insurance Business to Prudential Financial, Inc.

Provided fairness opinion to the Executive Management Board of WMF in connection with the voluntary public takeover offer by Finedining Capital GmbH, a holding company in the possession of funds managed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

Advised VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel on its acquisition of The Timberland Company, a leading outdoor footwear and apparel company

Advised Principal Financial Group, Inc., a leading asset accumulation, asset management and retirement services franchise in the United States and abroad on its acquisition of HSBC Afore, HSBC’s pension business in Mexico

Advised Coin Acceptors, Inc. (“CoinCo”), a privately-owned US-based manufacturer of payment solutions for the automated point-of-sale industry, on the sale of its UK-based Money Controls subsidiary to Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products

Advised The Charles Schwab Corporation on its acquisition of Windward Investment Management, an investment advisory firm

Advised AXA Private Equity, a leading European diversified private equity firm, on the acquisition of a portfolio of limited partnership interests in private equity funds from Bank of America

Advised the Affiliated Transaction Committee of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. on the sale of its North American bottling operations to The Coca-Cola Company and on its concurrent acquisition of The Coca-Cola Company’s bottling operations in the Nordic region

Advised the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of NYFIX, Inc., a provider of electronic trading solutions, on its sale to NYSE Euronext

Advised PartnerRe Ltd., a leading global reinsurer, providing multi-line reinsurance to insurance companies, on its acquisition of PARIS RE Holdings Ltd., a French-listed, Swiss-based diversified reinsurer

Advised the special committee of the board of directors in connection with its merger with Triarc Companies, Inc., the operator of the Arby’s franchise. The combined systems will have approximately 10,000 restaurant units and pro forma annual system sales of approximately $12.5 billion, positioning it as the nation’s third largest quick service restaurant company

Advised Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc, the third largest options market in the US and the nation's oldest stock exchange, on its sale to the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.

Sole advisor to IHOP Corp., the fastest growing family dining concept in the US, on its acquisition of Applebee's

Advised Fortis on an offer by Fortis, RBS and Santander for ABN AMRO

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

Advised Visa USA in its announced plans to merge with Visa Canada and Visa International to form Visa Inc., a new public global corporation

(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