CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre Lyon has advised Eric Botton, the owner-manager of Bexley, on the sale of the company's stake in LBO France as part of a management buy-in (MBI).

Present in France and Belgium via around 15 points of sale, as well as on the internet, Lyon-based company Bexley sells shoes, as well as menswear and accessories. It has a turnover of around €35m and employs 75 people in France.

The sale was completed on 30 November 2017.

Parties involved in the transaction:

Eversheds Sutherland advises Phoenix Equity Partners in multi-million pound acquisition of Forest Holidays

Eversheds Sutherland has advised leading UK mid-market private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners (Phoenix) on its acquisition of Forest Holidays Group Limited (Forest Holidays), owner and operator of secluded eco-cabins and treehouses on nine sites across Britain’s National Forests.

Phoenix has acquired a controlling stake in Forest Holidays alongside existing shareholders LDC and The Forestry Commission.

On 28 September 2017, Caisse des Dépôts successfully issued two Uridashu bondsgoverned by French law to beoffered to the public in Japan on the secondary market:

a bond issue for a total amount of USD7,284,000, bearing interest at a rate of 1.86% and maturing on 28 September 2022; and

a bond issue for a total amount of AUD29,599,000, bearing interest at a rate of 2.58% and maturing on 28 September 2022.

On 28 September 2017, Caisse des Dépôts successfully issued two Uridashu bondsgoverned by French law to beoffered to the public in Japan on the secondary market:

a bond issue for a total amount of USD7,284,000, bearing interest at a rate of 1.86% and maturing on 28 September 2022; and

a bond issue for a total amount of AUD29,599,000, bearing interest at a rate of 2.58% and maturing on 28 September 2022.

Dechert LLP represented SQS Software Quality Systems AG (“SQS”), a leading independent provider of end-to-end software quality assurance services, on its proposed acquisition by Assystem Services Deutschland GmbH, a leader in the European research and development market. The all-cash bid values SQS at GBP 281.3 million. First announced on December 15, 2017, the offer is expected to close in February 2018 pending regulatory approvals and assuming satisfaction of the acceptance and other conditions.

Simpson Thacher represented the International Managers, Morgan Stanley and Daiwa Securities, in a ¥116 billion (approximately US$1 billion) initial public offering of shares of SG Holdings Co., Ltd. (“SG Holdings”). The selling shareholder in the IPO was SG Holdings Group Employee Shareholding Association. The global offering included an international offering to investors outside Japan and the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Dechert LLP advised Ares Management Limited (“Ares”) and The Royal Bank of Scotland (“RBS”) on their provision of a senior debt financing package to support Phoenix Equity Partners acquisition of a majority stake in the Forest Holidays Group. 

Phoenix Equity Partners will be investing in the Forest Holidays Group alongside LDC, the private equity arm of the Lloyds Banking Group, the Forestry Commission and Management (who were all previous investors in the Forest Holidays Group). 

MinterEllison has advised ASX listed retail travel franchise Helloworld Travel on its $32.5m acquisition of Magellan Travel Group.

MinterEllison has acted for Helloworld Travel Limited (Helloworld) which has entered into agreements to acquire the Magellan Travel Group (Magellan) for $32.5 million.

ASX listed Helloworld is Australia's largest retail franchise travel business and currently employs over 2,000 staff globally.