International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised Aqueduct Capital (UK) Limited and its shareholders on the disposal of the Sutton and East Surrey Water Group (the “SESW Group”) to Sumitomo Corporation.

The SESW Group comprises Sutton and East Surrey Water plc, a regulated water supply company serving 655,000 customers in the South East of England, as well as a number of complementary associated businesses and property interests.  Aqueduct Capital is owned by infrastructure funds advised by iCON Infrastructure LLP,  pension funds managed by The Public Sector Pension Investment Board and pension, endowment and government funds managed by Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

The Freshfields team in London was led by corporate partners Claire Wills and Martin Nelson-Jones, assisted by senior associate Graham Kirk and associate Jason Varney. The deal team also included tax partner Richard Ballard and senior associate Peter Clements, and antitrust, competition and trade partner David Aitman.

This deal demonstrates the firm's expertise in the infrastructure sector and its market leading track record in advising on transactions in regulated sectors.  The firm's recent UK water deals include advising a consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited on its recommended takeover of Northumbrian Water Group plc and Agbar on its sale of the majority of the shares of Bristol Water; and securing a ground breaking result for South Staffordshire Water on its merger with Cambridge Water when the Competition Commission for the first time unconditionally approved a "water to water" merger.

http://www.freshfields.com/en/deals/Freshfields_advises_on_disposal_of_…