Alex Novarese, Legal Business: It has been a record period for Asian activity into Europe. How do you see the general trends?
Abhijit Mukhopadhyay, Hinduja Group: China is an issue, because the main difference between the Asian companies, European companies and Chinese companies is that Chinese companies are directly or indirectly state-owned. Continue reading “Cross-border M&A: Asian bidders usher in different mindset”
With news this weekend that Thomas Cook is on the brink of collapse and has ceased trading with immediate effect, a number of global elite firms have been lined up to advise on the latest high-profile collapse of a household name.
Ashurst is advising the Official Receiver as well as AlixPartners and KPMG, which were appointed as special managers in respect of certain Thomas Cook entities, while Slaughter and May and Latham & Watkins are advising Thomas Cook. Insolvency practitioners from AlixPartners have been appointed as special managers over the airline and tour operator companies, while practitioners from KPMG have been appointed as special managers to the group’s retail division and to its aircraft maintenance companies. Continue reading “Global firms lined up to advise as Thomas Cook rescue talks fail”
On 29 April Legal Business launched its first summit focused on M&A and corporate transactions. The one-day event saw us team up with a host of leading firms including Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Bristows and Greenberg Traurig to debate the key trends in the deal market in front of more than 150 delegates.
Slaughter and May and Clifford Chance (CC) are representing the City elite on a £4.8bn offer for Merlin Entertainments, in a deal that brought together a line-up of heavy hitters with Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins also fielding veteran partners.
The deal was announced on 28 June with Merlin, which is being advised by Slaughters, agreeing the terms of a recommended offer. The acquiring consortium comprises Kirkbi – the investment vehicle for Lego’s founding family – alongside private equity houses The Blackstone Group and the CPP Investment Board (CPPIB). Continue reading “City and US heavyweights line up on Lego owner’s £4.8bn offer for Merlin”
Travers Smith has appointed Paul Dolman as co-head of corporate in addition to his existing role of head of private equity and financial sponsors.
The well-respected Dolman joins the influential Spencer Summerfield, who has been sole head of corporate since 2013, on a joint ticket to lead Travers’ M&A, private equity and equity capital markets practices. Continue reading “Travers’ private equity star Dolman joins Summerfield at the corporate helm”
