Deals And Transactions Legal News Coverage

Legal Week

Commentary: Travers rides the cycle down - but no change of lane

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 30, 2008

For a crude barometer of market activity, you can do worse than Travers Smith. Naturally aligned to UK corporate M&A, the City firm's profitability is closely tied to activity in upper-mid market private equity and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Small wonder, then, that year-end results announced by Travers earlier this month have shown growth suffer at the hands of prolonged credit turmoil and tumbling business confidence. Although still a highly profitable outfit - profits per equity partner comfortably outstrips many rivals with a similar income - the firm has nonetheless reported a 7.6% drop in profits to £755,000, down from £817,000 last year. Turnover, meanwhile, has edged up 3% to sit at £81m for the year.

7 minute read

International Edition

Shearman and Weil to advise on GE's Abu Dhabi investment tie-up

By Charlotte Edmond | July 30, 2008

Shearman & Sterling and Weil Gotshal & Manges have come together to advise on a multibillion-dollar partnership between Abu Dhabi's state investment vehicle, Mubadala, and General Electric (GE). Shearman's New York office has taken the lead role for Mubadala, which last week (22 July) announced it is set to become one of GE's 10 largest institutional investors through the agreement, which will also see each company invest $4bn (£2bn) in a jointly-owned financial services company based in Abu Dhabi.

2 minute read

Legal Week

Shearman and Weil to advise on GE's Abu Dhabi investment tie-up

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 30, 2008

Shearman & Sterling and Weil Gotshal & Manges have come together to advise on a multibillion-dollar partnership between Abu Dhabi's state investment vehicle, Mubadala, and General Electric (GE). Shearman's New York office has taken the lead role for Mubadala, which last week (22 July) announced it is set to become one of GE's 10 largest institutional investors through the agreement, which will also see each company invest $4bn (£2bn) in a jointly-owned financial services company based in Abu Dhabi.

17 minute read

International Edition

Herbies and Ashurst take headline roles on private equity fund's £250m LSE IPO

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 30, 2008

Herbert Smith and Ashurst have landed lead roles on the $500m (£250.3m) float of Global MENA Financial Assets (GMFA) on the London Stock Exchange.Herbert Smith advised longstanding client JP Morgan Cazenove as sole sponsor, global co-ordinator and joint-bookrunner for the offering, fielding a team under London corporate partners Alex Bafi and Scott Cochrane.

2 minute read

International Edition

National trio land roles on software buy-out

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 30, 2008

A host of firms including national trio Hammonds, DLA Piper and Addleshaw Goddard have secured roles advising on the £162m buyout of software company SSP.Hammonds advised the management of SSP on the acquisition by H&F Bidco - an investment vehicle owned by funds managed by San Francisco private equity group Hellman & Friedman. The firm fielded a team headed by private equity partner Gregg Davison for the group's management, led by executive chairman David Rasche.Hammonds has previously advised SSP on deals including its 2006 float on London's Alternative Investment Market, and last year's £43m takeover of Sirius Financial Solutions.

2 minute read

International Edition

A&O and Slaughters lead on BA/Iberia merger bid

By Georgina Stanley | July 30, 2008

Allen & Overy (A&O) has landed a high-profile instruction advising Spanish airline Iberia on its merger talks with British Airways (BA). A&O is fielding a team led by Madrid managing partner Inigo Gomez-Jordana and London corporate veteran Alan Paul in what will be seen as a trophy mandate for the top five London firm.

2 minute read

Legal Week

A&O and Slaughters lead on BA/Iberia merger bid

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 30, 2008

Allen & Overy (A&O) has landed a high-profile instruction advising Spanish airline Iberia on its merger talks with British Airways (BA). A&O is fielding a team led by Madrid managing partner Inigo Gomez-Jordana and London corporate veteran Alan Paul in what will be seen as a trophy mandate for the top five London firm.

9 minute read

International Edition

Simpson Thacher to lead on multibillion-dollar KKR listing

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 29, 2008

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is to advise longstanding client Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) on the private equity powerhouse's public offering, reports The American Lawyer.The transaction is a significant departure from KKR's original plans, announced a year ago, to raise $1.25bn (£627m) through an initial public offering. Instead, KKR will go public by taking over its Amsterdam-listed investment fund, KKR Private Equity Investors (PEI). After the transaction is completed, shares of KKR will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The proposed deal values KKR at a reported $12bn-$15bn (£6bn-£7.5bn).

3 minute read

International Edition

Travers ties up €630m Unilever acquisition

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 25, 2008

Travers Smith has advised Spanish food group Grupo SOS on its €630m (£496m) acquisition of Unilever's Bertoli olive oil and vinegar business. Corporate partners Paul Dolman and Chris Hale led the Travers Smith team, which also included commercial partner Richard Brown, intellectual property (IP) partner Dan Reavill and tax partner Kathleen Russ.

2 minute read

International Edition

Dealmaker: John Balsdon

By a:1:{i:0;s:1:" ";} | July 23, 2008

Herbert Smith energy finance supremo John Balsdon on Russia, the tyranny of email and cows listening to Vivaldi

5 minute read

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