Ashurst is advising Berendsen plc, the FTSE 250 textile, hygiene and safety solutions business on its recommended £2.17 billion acquisition by Elis SA, a French public company with operations in Europe and Latin America. The transaction is being structured as a scheme of arrangement and Berendsen shareholders would, on completion, receive a mixture of cash and Elis shares.

The Ashurst team is being led by corporate partners James Wood and Dominic Ross, with senior associates Tara Waters and Themo Georgiou, and solicitor Jack Mendelssohn assisting. Incentives advice is being provided by counsel David Baxter and associate Rebecca Servian. Counsel John Gordon and associate Liz Ramsaran are providing pensions advice, and partner Jennifer Schneck and senior associate Jeffrey Johnson are advising on the US securities aspects of the transaction.

Commenting, James Wood said: "Ashurst has built a strong relationship with Berendsen since our appointment as its legal advisers in early 2016. As a result, our team was well-placed and fully committed to supporting the Board and management of Berendsen in the challenges of reaching agreement with Elis on the terms of the recommended acquisition."