Trio of firms act on £215m sale of UK's Kurt Geiger to US retailer

Herbert Smith, SJ Berwin and Addleshaw Goddard have all won roles on the £215m sale of designer shoe retailer Kurt Geiger to US clothing company The Jones Group.

Herbert Smith advised Jones Group with a team led by City corporate partner Ben Ward alongside real estate partner Martin Dawbney and finance partner Kristen Roberts.

SJ Berwin advised Kurt Geiger's private equity owner, Graphite Capital, with corporate partner Martin Bowen taking the key role.

Meanwhile, Addleshaws acted for Kurt Geiger, with a team including corporate partner Mike Hinchliffe and employment partner Alasdair Simpson.

Ward said: "This is a major international investment for The Jones Group and its plan is for Kurt Geiger to become the European hub.

"There is a reasonable amount of private equity activity in the market at the moment, as can be seen by deals such as this. Kurt Geiger's management is remaining with the business, and one of the more interesting things for us was sorting out their terms going forward."

The deal marks the first time Herbert Smith has acted for Jones, while Graphite Capital is a longstanding client of SJ Berwin, with the firm having previously advised on deals including the £130m management buyout (MBO) of automotive products company U-POL in September last year.

Addleshaws also advised Kurt Geiger on its £95m MBO by Graphite in 2008.

The Jones Group is a New York-listed company which owns brands such as Nine West, Anne Klein, Jones New York, Easy Spirit and 
Gloria Vanderbilt.

The Jones Group is planning to use the acquisition to introduce Kurt Geiger into the US. The UK shoe company currently has around 50 stores in the UK and posted revenues of £205m for the last 
financial year.