Corporate
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
The establishment of the British Business Bank, which provides finance to small and medium-sized businesses. The project involved the transfer of creation of the corporate structure and corporate governance principles of the bank and a large number of equity and fund interests. The British Business Bank legal team won the In-House Innovation Award at the 2015 British Legal Awards for this project.
General Electric
A general reorganisation of its European businesses.
BTG plc
Various corporate matters, including directors' duties, corporate governance, listing rules compliance, corporate reorganisations and directors' indemnities.
Covanta
The formation and reorganisation of its European business in preparation for its strategic partnership with GIG/Macquarie.
British Business Bank plc
Advice on its formation, corporate governance and annual general meeting.
North London Waste Authority
Advice regarding its corporate structure.
Department of Transport
Advice regarding directors' duties.
Pharmaceutical sector
Chris has also provided advice in respect of a buyback of shares in the context of a dispute between shareholders. He has also advised the directors of a Main Market listed company on their duties and corporate governance requirements.
John Swire & Sons
Various corporate matters, including its annual general meetings, revisions to its articles of association and a bonus share issue.
Bourne Leisure
Various corporate matters, including amendments to its articles of association.
Premier Foods
Various corporate matters, including its annual report and annual general meeting.
Joint ventures
Covanta and GIG/Macquarie strategic partnership
Advised Covanta on its strategic partnership with Green Investment Group (part of the Macquarie group) to develop, fund and own energy-from-waste projects in the UK and Ireland. The initial investment took place into Covanta's Dublin EfW project, with the purchase price implying a total enterprise value for the project of about €700 million. Chris has advised on further investments and joint venture arrangements in respect of plants in Earls Gate and Rookery South. The four advanced projects forming part of the development pipeline have a total estimated capital cost of US$1.6 billion.
Banco Santander
The merger of Santander Asset Management with Pioneer Investments, valuing the combined group at €5.35 billion.
Moody's Corporation
Advised on the acquisition of a majority stake in the Copal Partners' group, a leading provider of outsourced research and analytical services.
Premier Foods
Advised on Premier Foods' joint venture with The Gores Group LLC to operate its bread business.
Thomas Cook
A joint venture with the travel business of the Co-operative Group.
More: Joint ventures
Public and private M&A
A.J. Gallagher
Advising A.J. Gallagher on the acquisition of Stackhouse Poland from Synova Capital and management. Stackhouse Poland is a large-scale specialist UK insurance broker with over 500 employees and generating over £55 million in annualised revenues.
Bowmark Capital LLP
The acquisition of Pirum Systems from Five Arrows Principal Investments.
Covanta and GIG/Macquarie strategic partnership
Advised Covanta on its strategic partnership with Green Investment Group (part of the Macquarie group) to develop, fund and own energy-from-waste projects in the UK and Ireland. The initial investment took place into Covanta's Dublin EfW project, with the purchase price implying a total enterprise value for the project of about €700 million. The four advanced projects forming part of the development pipeline have a total estimated capital cost of US$1.6 billion.
Bell Pottinger (in administration)
Acted for BDO LLP as administrators on the sale of both the Far East and Middle East businesses of Bell Pottinger (in administration).
Premier Foods
The sale of Premier Foods' sweet spreads and jellies business to the Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
The sale of the sale of the Elephant Atta, Elephant Chakki Gold and Fassal business to Associated British Foods.
Moody's Corporation
Advised on the acquisition of a majority stake in the Copal Partners' group, a leading provider of outsourced research and analytical services.
General Electric
A share sale by a member of the General Electric group operating in the power sector.
Bloomsbury PLC
The acquisitions of Osprey Publishing Limited, the world's best known military publisher, and Cumnor Publishing Limited from The Third Alcuin Fund LP.
Manchester Airport Group
The acquisition of Stansted Airport.
Maritime and real estate
Chris has also advised on several private acquisitions in the maritime and real estate sectors.
More: Public and private M&A
Restructuring and insolvency
Bell Pottinger (in administration)
Acted for BDO LLP as administrators on the sale of both the Far East and Middle East businesses of Bell Pottinger (in administration).
More: Restructuring and insolvency
Private equity and venture capital
Bowmark Capital LLP
The acquisition of Pirum Systems from Five Arrows Principal Investments.
STAR Capital Partners
The acquisition of Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited.
STAR Capital Partners
The establishment of STAR Finance Partners LP, to invest in the asset finance broker market.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
The establishment of the British Business Bank, which provides finance to small and medium-sized businesses. The project involved the transfer of creation of the corporate structure and corporate governance principles of the bank and a large number of equity and fund interests. The British Business Bank legal team won the In-House Innovation Award at the 2015 British Legal Awards for this project.
The Department of Energy & Climate Change
The creation of The International Climate Fund with the Green Investment Bank for the purpose of investing in green energy in developing countries.
Infrastructure and Projects Authority
The establishment of the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund. The Fund will see HM Treasury invest up to £400 million to mobilise over £1 billion of investment in full fibre broadband.
Minority investors
Acting for minority investors on the initial public offering of Parques Reunidos, a leading global operator of leisure parks, on the Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia stock exchanges.
Firethorn Trust
Advising Firethorn Trust on the establishment of a £100m fund to invest in commercial real estate.