Private Acquisitions and Disposals

Our key experience includes advising:

International Airlines Group (IAG) on the proposed acquisition of British Midland Limited (bmi).

Old Mutual on the proposed sale of its Nordic business (excluding Finland).

Kesa Electricals on the proposed sale of Comet.

Santander UK on its agreement to acquire parts of the banking businesses of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group which are carried out through its RBS branches in England and Wales and its Natwest branches in Scotland.

Unilever on its acquisition of the worldwide body care and European detergents business of Sara Lee Corporation; on the disposal of Bertolli olive oil and vinegar business and its Maya, Dante, and San Giorgio olive oil and seed oil businesses; on the disposal of its European Frozen Foods business; and on the sale of Sanex and the purchase from Colgate-Palmolive of its laundry detergent brands in Colombia.

Resolution on the acquisition of the AXA UK Life Business.

Prudential on a proposed combination with AIA Group which would have created the leading life insurer in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

Abbey National on the disposal of Porterbrook (which specialises in the leasing of railway rolling stock and associated equipment).

HM Treasury on the sale of Bradford & Bingley’s UK and Isle of Man retail business and branch network.

General Electric's GE Money and Commercial Finance business units on the acquisition from and sale of certain businesses to Banco Santander.

Standard Chartered on the acquisition of American Express Bank.