Private Equity

The world of private equity is constantly evolving – new trends, structures, sectors and participants. Certain things, however, remain constant: the search for profitable investment opportunities, the relationships between owners, managers and investors and the need for funding as a catalyst for growth and development. The last few years have presented significant challenges for the business world at large and the private equity sector has been no exception. But the challenges have created opportunities and the resultant private equity landscape, in particular in the mid-market private equity and venture capital sectors, is vibrant and forward-looking for funders, business owners and advisers alike.

Why we are different

Our position as a firm with a strong focus on both private and institutional work has given us a unique vantage point from which to observe the merging of the worlds of private wealth and institutional activity. Our Private Equity Group represents a key component of the Firm's Corporate focus on Private Capital and Ventures. Acting not only for some of the UK's most established private equity houses we also advise many new entrant investors – family offices, sovereign funds and high net worth individuals – investee companies and management teams. We are alive to the commercial issues that underpin deals; the financial models and return rates on which funders focus; the cash requirements and business pressures of investee companies; the aspirations and fears of owner-managers. We are active across the full spectrum of venture capital and private equity activity. Fundamentally understanding our clients' needs means we are well placed to generate opportunities for potential deals and provide guidance through many successful deals.

In addition to our core UK practice, there is a distinctly international perspective to our work. We are culturally aware and have the logistical know-how to handle multi-jurisdictional deals.

Services

The Group advises on all aspects of private equity, acting for private equity funds, family offices, sovereign funds, HNWIs, sellers of owner-managed businesses into private equity, debt lenders, investee companies and management teams on both UK and international transactions.

We structure and negotiate all forms of private equity investments, such as:

MBO/MBI
growth/development capital investments
corporate business acquisitions and disposals
equity and debt restructurings
public-to-private transactions
start-up investments
employee share and incentive schemes

We also have specialist groups in the areas of finance and banking, funds & financial services, tax, commercial, real estate, employment, competition and IP, offering comprehensive transactional and advisory support.

Experience

Lead Investor

Members of the private equity team have previously worked on:

Scottish Equity Partners and Business Growth Fund
£20 million co-investment of growth capital in SkyDox Limited, provider of cloud-enabled document collaboration software and the associated joining of forces with Workshare Limited
Vista Equity Partners
UK counsel in relation to the acquisition of Kondor, the risk management division of Thomson Reuters Corporation for approximately £650 million
Capman Plc
Auction sale of IT2 Treasury Solutions Group
D2 Private
Sale of 23 Savile Row in Mayfair to Plaza Global Real Estate Partners, the joint venture between Quantum Global Real Estate and LaSalle Investment Management
ACP Capital
Establishment of ACP Capital's NextEnergy Initiative, a platform for the acquisition of renewable energy assets in Italy and southern Europe, through its subsidiary ACP Capital Infrastructure
Risk Capital Partners
MBO of Bread Limited
Blue Gem Capital Partners
Acquisitions of Enotria and The Private Clinic
Reed Elsevier Ventures
Investment in Struq
Vesuvius Limited
Series of equity and secured debt investments in Rightster Limited, a provider of distribution and monetisation services for downloadable video content
Palamon Capital
Equity investment in Quality Solicitors
Kelso Place
Sale of I2S Group's building controls division to Carrier Corporation
Martland Holdings
Acquisition of Aylesford Newsprint from SCA and Mondi Group
Endless
MBO of Cinesite (Europe) Limited
Arle Capital
Acquisition of RBG Limited from 3i