Slaughter and May corporate partner William Underhill advised US-based healthcare support group Cardinal Health on its £227m acquisition of Intercare Group, the UK drugs manufacturer and supplier. Underhill was supported by corporate associates Simon Nicholls and Kathrin Kribben. Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz corporate partner David Katz advised the acquirer on the US aspects of the deal. The target was advised by Eversheds corporate partner Robin Johnson. The deal requires shareholder acceptance and is expected to close before the year end.

Walker Morris corporate partner Ian Gilbert advised Gamestec Leisure, a supplier of coin-fed gaming machines, on its £67m acquisition of Rank Leisure Machine Services and Rank Seasonal Amusements – two companies active in the same sector – from The Rank Group.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Martin Taylor advised Rank. The vendor is using the proceeds from this sale to reduce debt and focus on its core businesses.

Nabarro Nathanson corporate partner Robert Tudway advised Serco on the acquisition of the shares it did not already own in Altram (Manchester), buying out the three other shareholders – Laing Investments, Italian electrical engineering company Ansaldo Trasporti-Sistemi Ferroviari and 3i. Middleton Potts corporate partners David Rabagliati and Lindsey Hemingway acted for Altram (Manchester) and the three shareholders. Eversheds corporate partner Edward Pysden advised Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, which awarded the right to operate the tram system to Altram, on the reorganisation of the underlying arrangements, under which Altram would continue to operate the Manchester Metrolink Tram System.