Wragge & Co's corporate specialists have advised Sanctuary Housing Association on its acquisition of Cosmopolitan Housing Group (CHG). A team led by corporate partner Peter Smith advised on the deal, which brings an additional 13,500 homes under the Sanctuary Group umbrella, taking its total housing stock up to 94,000. The acquisition was supported by social housing regulator the Homes and Communities Agency.

Peter Smith said: "Sanctuary has been a client of Wragge & Co for some time, and over the past decade we have seen it go from strength to strength. Negotiating the deal drew on our strong corporate expertise and due diligence capability. The team worked well together to provide Sanctuary with the advice it needed within very tight timeframes."

David Bennett, Group Chief Executive at Sanctuary Housing Association, added: "Since we became involved with CHG earlier this year, we have been working closely with Wragge & Co to achieve a successful outcome in a short space of time. As always, their commercially-focused advice and technical expertise proved invaluable."

Peter Smith was supported by corporate director Graham Spalding, banking and finance partner Chris Brierley and solicitors Harry Bengough and Navin Prabhakar, real estate associate Anna Colley and commercial associate Hilary Drenth. Employment advice was delivered by solicitor Layla Meehan and partner Martin Chitty. Pensions partner Richard Lee, associate Liz Wood and solicitor Eleanor Baynes also advised.

They worked closely with Sanctuary's group director of capital finance, Tony King, and group director of finance and resources, Craig Moule.

CHG comprises Cosmopolitan Housing Association, Cosmopolitan Student Homes, Cosmopolitan Enterprises and Chester and District Housing Trust. It owns and manages around 13,500 homes across Merseyside, Cheshire and the North West.

Devonshires Solicitors acted on behalf of CHG.

Sanctuary manages more than 94,000 homes in England and Scotland, from its Worcester headquarters. This includes rented, sheltered, supported, student and key worker accommodation. Wragge & Co has provided full-service legal advice to Sanctuary since 2003, and advised on its £300 million secured bonds issue in April 2012.

Wragge & Co's corporate specialists provide a partner-led service and commercial legal advice to listed companies, private companies and institutional investors. They operate globally as one team from offices in Birmingham, London and Paris. The team specialises in M&A, private equity, IPOs, joint ventures, public takeovers, share schemes, complex corporate restructuring, financial services and tax.

It is joined by specialists from around the firm to provide sector-focused advice to housing clients. As experienced advisers to a range of housing providers, clients include Circle, Midland Heart, Orbit Homes, the Dolphin Square Foundation, Keepmoat, Bournville Village Trust and the London Borough of Croydon.

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