Transactions UK

  • February 18, 2025

    Miner MMG To Buy Anglo American Unit For Up To $500M

    China-backed miner MMG Ltd. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy Anglo American PLC's nickel business for up to $500 million, as the British multinational mining giant eyes a more streamlined business.

  • February 18, 2025

    UK Probes French Aerospace Group's Planned $1.8B Takeover

    The Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into the proposed acquisition by French aerospace group Safran SA of Collins Aerospace's flight-control business for $1.8 billion.

  • February 18, 2025

    Swedish Medical Co. Seals Takeover Of UK Ultrasound Biz

    Surgical Science, a Swedish medical simulation company, said Tuesday it has completed its £45.2 million ($57 million) acquisition of Intelligent Ultrasound Group PLC, in a deal advised by Fieldfisher LLP and Baker McKenzie LLP.

  • February 18, 2025

    Morton Guides £1.5M Pension Deal For Accounting Firm

    An accountancy firm has passed £1.5 million ($1.9 million) of its pension liabilities to Just Group, the insurer said Tuesday, in a deal advised by Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP.

  • February 18, 2025

    InterContinental Buys Micro Hotel Chain Ruby For €110M

    Hospitality giant InterContinental said Tuesday it has acquired European hotel operator Ruby Sarl for €110.5 million ($115.5 million) upfront, as the group looks to capture a slice of the increasingly popular boutique accommodation sector.

  • February 18, 2025

    Merger Of Poultry Feed Suppliers Gets Provisional UK Nod

    The Competition and Markets Authority said on Tuesday that it has provisionally cleared the proposed acquisition by restaurant group Boparan of two feed mills, despite finding in an earlier investigation into a similar deal that it could harm competition in parts of the country.

  • February 18, 2025

    Property Co. Assura Says £1.6B KKR Bid Undervalues Biz

    The board of property manager Assura PLC said Tuesday that a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) possible offer tabled by U.S. private equity firm KKR "materially undervalued the company and its prospects."

  • February 17, 2025

    Hut Group Investor Fights To Revive Share Challenge

    A shareholder of major British online retailer the Hut Group urged the U.K. Supreme Court on Monday to allow it to sue the company over a 2016 allotment of bonus shares, saying the court should reject arguments by the business that the claim is time-barred.

  • February 17, 2025

    MoneySuperMarket Owner Launches £30M Share Buyback

    Mony Group PLC, the owner of financial services comparison site MoneySuperMarket, on Monday launched a share repurchase program of up to £30 million that it said reflects its "robust financial position," as it reported higher profits.

  • February 17, 2025

    Anglo American Eyes June Spin-Off For Platinum Mining Unit

    Anglo American PLC said Monday that it has made "significant progress" with plans to spin off its platinum subsidiary in South Africa and that it is targeting June for this to happen.

  • February 17, 2025

    Drinks Maker Fevertree Serves Up £70M Share Buyback

    Drinks mixer maker Fevertree poured out a share buyback program on Monday worth up to £71 million ($89 million) aimed at downsizing its capital after it entered into a partnership with Molson Coors for exclusive distribution and production rights in the U.S.

  • February 17, 2025

    CMA Wants Answers From Tile Biz Over £9M Deal To Buy Rival

    The Competition and Markets Authority said Monday that an initial investigation into the £9 million purchase by tile retailer Topps Tiles of 30 stores of rival CTD Tiles raises concerns over competition in four U.K. regions.

  • February 17, 2025

    Shoosmiths Steers £16M Pension Deal For Manufacturing Co.

    Insurer Just Group said on Monday that it has taken on £16 million ($20.2 million) of liabilities in a retirement scheme from a pension plan sponsored by industrial machinery manufacturer Deutz AG, in a deal guided by Shoosmiths.

  • February 17, 2025

    UK Healthcare Property Biz Assura Rejects £1.6B KKR Bid

    Primary care property developer Assura PLC has snubbed a £1.6 billion ($2 billion) proposed takeover approach from KKR and a U.K. pensions provider, the U.S. private equity firm said on Monday.

  • February 14, 2025

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen Spice Girls star Mel B's ex-husband bring a defamation claim against the publisher of The Sun, a hotel sue a former director convicted of embezzling its funds for breach of fiduciary duty, and comedian Russell Brand face a sexual abuse claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • February 14, 2025

    Gowling, Squire Patton Pilot £50M Pension Deal For Textile Biz

    A German textiles company has offloaded £50 million ($63 million) of its U.K. pension liabilities to insurer Just Group PLC, advisers said Friday, in a deal steered by Gowling WLG and Squire Patton Boggs LLP.

  • February 14, 2025

    5 Questions For Spencer West Partner Karl Foster

    The Financial Conduct Authority's approach to enforcement and consumer protection has come up against government economic growth priorities and resistance from the sector to its proposals to "name and shame" companies early on during regulatory probes.

  • February 14, 2025

    Addleshaw Goddard Leads £4M Fundraising For Genetics Biz

    Preventive genetics business GENinCode said Friday that it has secured at least £4 million ($5 million) of £4.5 million in funding through a share placement and subscription, in a program led by Addleshaw Goddard LLP.

  • February 14, 2025

    Stephenson Harwood-Led Green Investment Trust To Wind Up

    Jupiter Green Investment Trust PLC presented two options to its shareholders on Friday over its proposed liquidation and reconstruction after the environmental business investor was buffeted by long-term macroeconomic headwinds.

  • February 14, 2025

    Coca-Cola Bottler Refreshes Investors With €1B Buyback

    Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC said Friday it will launch a share buyback program worth up to €1 billion ($1 billion) as the bottling business of the soft drink giant reported a financially fizzy year.

  • February 14, 2025

    Kirkland-Led Bain Buys Facilities Manager From PAI Partners

    Private equity firm Bain Capital, which is being advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, will buy Apleona, a German facilities manager, from France's PAI Partners, the two companies said Friday.

  • February 13, 2025

    Musk's $97B OpenAI Bid Dubbed A 'Stunt' Amid Other Rumors

    After a Wall Street Journal report on Monday revealed that a consortium of investors led by Elon Musk was offering $97.4 billion to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, rumors began to swirl regarding the true intentions behind the billionaire's bid.

  • February 13, 2025

    Barclays Confirms £1B Share Buyback, Reports Profits Spike

    Barclays PLC confirmed on Thursday that it plans to reward investors with a share buyback worth up to £1 billion ($1.25 billion) as it reported a 24% increase in pre-tax profit to £8.1 billion in the 2024 financial year.

  • February 13, 2025

    IT Biz Must Revisit $25M Earnout From Fixnetix Acquisition

    A global information technology service company has been ordered to reevaluate a deferred payment of up to $25.7 million arising from its purchase of a trader, as a judge found Thursday that the sellers could challenge how some revenue streams were calculated.

  • February 13, 2025

    Unilever Starts €1.5B Buyback, Unveils Ice Cream Listing Plan

    Unilever PLC on Thursday began a share buyback of up to €1.5 billion ($1.5 billion), as it announced plans to have Amsterdam as the primary listing of its ice-cream business and London and New York as secondary listings.

Expert Analysis

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Equal Rights Limit State Immunity

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    The Court of Appeal of England and Wales' recent determination that Spain’s London embassy could not dodge a former U.K.-based employee’s discrimination claims by invoking sovereign immunity reaffirms its position that employment and human rights should come before the privileges of foreign powers, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray’s Inn.

  • How Proposed Private Share Trading System May Benefit Cos.

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    The government's proposal for a private securities and capital exchange system intends to enhance market practices and risk tolerances, offering a significant way for firms to free up liquidity by allowing investors to trade existing private company shares, say lawyers at Mishcon de Reya.

  • Managing Transatlantic Antitrust Investigations And Litigation

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    As transatlantic competition regulators cooperate more closely and European antitrust investigations increasingly spark follow-up civil suits in the U.S., companies must understand how to simultaneously juggle high-stakes multigovernment investigations and manage the risks of expensive new claims across jurisdictions, say lawyers at Paul Weiss.

  • What To Know As EU Urges Outbound Investment Reviews

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    A recent European Commission recommendation urges European Union member states to review outbound investments in certain critical technologies sectors, but does not clarify the next steps for states once information on relevant transactions in third countries is received, say lawyers at Cleary.

  • Competition Act Brings Important UK Merger Control Changes

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    Although recently effective sections of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act provide clarity on the transactions that may attract Competition and Markets Authority attention, some reforms potentially expanding the regulator's scope may be concerning to transacting parties, say lawyers at Fried Frank.

  • How GCs Can Protect Cos. From Geopolitical Headwinds

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    Geopolitical uncertainty is perceived by corporate leaders as the biggest short-term threat to global business, but many of the potential crises are navigable if general counsel focus on what is being said about a company and what the company is doing, says Juliet Young at Schillings.

  • Key Points From FCA Financial Crime Guide Updates

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    The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent updates to its financial crime guide reflect the regulator’s learnings on sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting and clarifying consumer duty, anti-money laundering and other compliance expectations, say lawyers at Womble Bond.

  • Tax Directive Marks Milestone In Harmonizing EU System

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    The Council of the European Union’s recently adopted tax directive is a significant step toward streamlining and modernizing procedures for member states, and will greatly reduce administrative burden and compliance costs for cross-border investors, says Martin Phelan at Simmons & Simmons.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: UK Awards Versus EU Judgments

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    The Court of Appeal of England and Wales' recent refusal to enforce a €855 million Spanish judgment inconsistent with earlier binding arbitral awards in England provides crucial guidance for practitioners navigating the complexities of cross-border disputes involving arbitration agreements and sovereign states, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

  • Insider Info Compliance Highlights From New FCA Guidance

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    The Financial Conduct Authority's recent guidance to companies on identifying inside information clarifies the regulator's expectation of case-by-case assessment, helpfully highlighting that abuse of U.K.-regulated markets can arise earlier than some might think, say lawyers at Sullivan & Cromwell.

  • Key Points From EU's Latest FDI Screening Regulation Review

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    The European Commission’s recent assessment of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regulation indicates that with strong control here to stay, precautionary filings are likely to remain necessary, and member states should prepare for greater rule alignment to reduce inefficiencies caused by a current lack of synchronization, say lawyers at Linklaters.

  • How Lawyers Can Work On Unmasking Beneficial Ownership

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    The Solicitors Regulation Authority's recent anti-money laundering report suggests that identifying ultimate beneficial owners in a transaction is one of the key day-to-day challenges that law firms face, and the solution lies in combining know-your-business processes with know-your-client verification, says Sam Ruback at Thirdfort.

  • Anticipating The UK's Top M&A Trends In 2025

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    Conversations with market participants are focusing on five key questions about 2025's transactional markets, ranging from issues of artificial intelligence, to the boom in takeovers and increased regulatory scrutiny, says Layla D’Monte at King & Spalding.

  • Businesses Should Expect A Role In Tackling Fraud Next Year

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    If one word sums up a key trend in financial crime enforcement in 2024, it would be fraud, as enforcement agencies clamped down on consumer-focused crime — and businesses will need to be prepared to play a part in 2025 with the coming of the "failure to prevent fraud" offense, says Jessica Parker at Corker Binning.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Cross-Border Contract Lessons

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    A U.K. court's decision this month in Banco De Sabadell v. Cerberus provides critical lessons for practitioners involved in drafting and litigating cross-border investment agreements, and offers crucial insight into how English courts apply foreign law in complex cross-border disputes, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn. 

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