Private Equity
We advise financial sponsors, investors, financiers, portfolio companies and management teams on international transactions. We draw on our top tier M&A practice and genuine full-service capability to execute complex, innovative deals quickly, thoughtfully and to the highest standards. Our team supports the full spectrum of strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, private credit and venture capital, working on matters that range from mid-market deals to those involving the very largest targets and funds.
Our clients include private equity firms, asset managers, portfolio companies, and infrastructure, real estate, sovereign wealth and pension funds.
We regularly act on deals at all stages of the investment life cycle – from initial investment to exit – and at all levels of the capital structure, including both equity and debt finance. Our work covers a broad range of transactions including acquisitions and disposals through bilateral and auction sales, primary investments (including both common and preferred equity), bolt-on and tuck-in acquisitions and carve-outs. We have particular experience in minority investments and transactions involving targets involved in financial services and other regulated sectors, and are experts in public to private transactions, where our understanding of the dynamics of boards, regulators and other key stakeholders is outstanding.
We are known for our technical excellence, our commercial pragmatism and attentive, client-focused service. We set ourselves apart by focussing on client relationships rather than on particular practice areas. This enables us to deploy smaller, but more versatile, teams, offer intensive partner engagement and deliver a seamless service that is carefully tailored to the needs of our clients and particular transactions.
- Our private equity team comprises specialists from across the business, including Financing, Tax and Employment and Incentives. Together, we provide seamless advice that is clear, confident and commercial, but also advice that guides and leads clients towards a recommended solution.
- We have one of the strongest corporate practices in the world and are one of the top M&A law firms. This market-leading position gives us an unmatched insight into the sectors and businesses you might be considering investing in, as well as the challenges and opportunities within them.
- Our international strategy means that we are able to act with clients' preferred firms across all jurisdictions. We frequently act as deal counsel on international transactions – even where they may not have a direct connection with the UK or with English law – seeking and co-ordinating advice from local experts as required.
- Communication and efficiency is key to the success of a private equity transaction. Whilst our approach is flexible, we will always be partner-led, with our personal relationships and emphasis on bringing genuine value to transactions at the core of how we work with clients.
Key experience
On numerous transactions, including its investment in, and subsequent disposal of Beauparc; its investment in Ki (the first fully digital and algorithmically-driven Lloyd’s syndicate) alongside Fairfax; and its minority investments in HH Global, Beauparc, and Prima Assicurazione.
On numerous controlling and minority transactions, such as its investments in Currencies Direct and Xceptor, the acquisition of a majority stake in MJM Holdings, and on the acquisition of RGI SpA from Ardian and subsequent sale to CVC Capital Partners.
On numerous transactions, including its recommended offer for Loungers plc and its £9.9bn recommended cash offer for Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC.
On numerous transactions, including its investment in Roslin CT; its acquisition of Lykan Bioscience from Windrose; its increased investment in Sterling Pharma; and on GHO and ELIQUENT Life Science’s acquisition of RApport Global Strategic Services.
On numerous transactions, including its acquisition of a majority stake in UKFast; its disposal of, and subsequent investment into, Chambers & Partners; its disposal of The GOAT Agency (alongside its founders) to WPP; and its carve out acquisition of Marlowe plc’s GRC software and services division.
On numerous transactions, including its take-private of Proactis Holdings (alongside DBAY), its take-private offer of Mattioli Woods PLC; and the £2.5 billion merger between its portfolio company Markerstudy and the Atlanta Group.
Our offering brings together top-tier experts from across the firm who provide sharp, commercially-focused advice and negotiate hard to secure the best terms for our clients. We follow our clients wherever they want to do business, drawing on in-depth local expertise to complement our international experience and provide seamless, tailored advice to each client, from newly-established funds to global pioneers.
