Olswang has advised the shareholders of Fleetway Travel, a leading online provider of exclusive luxury travel deals, on the sale of the company to UK investors Synova Capital and Tenzing PE. The firm also advised the company’s existing senior management team on their ongoing investment alongside Synova and Tenzing.
Dentons advised Rio Tinto in the sale of its subsidiary ECL, specializing in design and installation of equipment for primary aluminum production, to Fives, a French industrial engineering leader in the aluminum sector.
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), is advising Quintain Estates and Development PLC (Quintain) on the recommended cash offer announced earlier today by Bailey Acquisitions Limited, an investment vehicle indirectly controlled by Lone Star REF IV (Lone Star). Lone Star’s offer values Quintain at approximately £700m (representing a premium of 22.4 per cent to the closing price of Quintain’s shares on 28 July 2015, being the last business day before the date of Lone Star’s announcement).
Charles Russell Speechlys has advised the shareholders of Silver Cross, the heritage British high-end baby brand founded in 1877 and famous for its coach-built baby prams, on a sale of the company to Fosun International, China’s leading investment group.
Alan Halsall acquired the business in 2002 and has sold his entire shareholding. A management team comprising Nick Paxton, and members of the Halsall family, Jonathan Halsall and Ben Halsall will remain as investors in the new business as they seek to grow operations around the world.
Alan Halsall said:
Ashurst advised Bridgepoint, a pan-European private equity investor, on the sale of Ponant -the specialist luxury cruise operator and market leader in specialist polar cruises- to Artemis, the holding company of the Pinault family.
Headquartered in Marseilles, Ponant currently transports over 30,000 passengers per year to the polar regions and other locations, operating in the growing luxury cruise segment.
A team led by Vienna corporate partner Philipp Spatz advised the previous owners on the sale of Vienna based Mona Group (“Mona”) to US Hain Celestial Group. Mona is a showpiece of Austrian entrepreneurship: Founded by Austrian visionaries in 2001, Mona meanwhile became a leader in soy and other plant-based beverages and foods, selling its products all across Europe under the well-known Joya and Happy brands.
King & Wood Mallesons has advised Astorg Partners and the other sellers on the sale of its stake in Linxens to CVC Capital Partners.
Main shareholder since 2011, Astorg Partners entered into exclusive discussions with CVC Capital Partners to acquire Linxens. The completion of the sale is subject to its Works Council and regulatory approvals.
Linxens is the world's leading manufacturer of connectors for smartcards. It operates in France, China, Thailand and Singapore. The group employs 800 people and generated a turnover of €253 million in 2014.
The insolvency administrator, Mr. Michael Pluta from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH, has sold the Stuttgart-based company nicko cruises to Mystic Invest SGPS, SA, a Portuguese holding company which operates tours and river cruises. The corresponding contract was signed yesterday. The new owner is nicko cruises Flussreisen GmbH, a German subsidiary company founded by Mystic Invest. This means that the company’s brand name will be kept.
Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Oxford Industries Inc. on the US$63.7 million sale of Ben Sherman business, and its related intellectual property assets, to Marquee Brands LLC.
Weightmans’ Corporate team based in Manchester, has advised the Lucideon Group on its acquisition by Beechfields (Stoke) Limited, a management and employee owned company.
The Lucideon Group is a Stoke-on -Trent headquartered materials research and testing group with international operations including in the UK, USA and China.