Page 16 Gregory Berkovicz GB2A Project Finance and Public Law Adviser of the Year France
Deal Maker Awards2022 FM Welcome to the 2022 edition of the Finance Monthly Deal Maker of the Year Awards. Finance Monthly is proud to reveal the full list of finalists and winners of the 2022 Finance Monthly Deal Maker of the Year Awards. The annual Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards recognise the most impressive transactions in the business space. Operations in M&A, capital raising, corporate bonds, infrastructure, project finance, equities and restructuring are all represented. Notable activity in M&A spaces across corporate, private equity, investment banking and legal fields are all eligible for an award. Beyond the transactions themselves, the Deal Maker Awards are an annual celebration of the professionals who have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence in their fields. Among those recognised are experts in financial, legal, tax, due diligence, risk management and strategic advisory fields, in addition to those who have excelled in global corporate and private equity advisory. We aim to shine a light on the people at the frontlines of the deals, whose skills and knowledge have made them possible. We at Finance Monthly are proud to present this special publication. Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists. 5 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INTRODUCT ION
Introducing the Winners... Deal Maker Awards2022 FM 6 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
EUROPE ALBANIA Kristaq Profkola WOLF THEISS Albania Telecom Invest and One Telecommunications SHA secures refinancing of a EUR 48.5million acquisition loan BELGIUM Gisèle Rosselle Strelia Energy One Limited acquires EGSSIS 40 BULGARIA Sevim Kachan Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov Mergers and Acquisition Lawyer of the Year CAYMAN ISLANDS Sarah Humpleby Walkers (Cayman) LLP Asset Finance Adviser of the Year DENMARK Dan Moalem MoalemWeitemeyer SkySpecs Inc’s Acquisition of Vertikal AI ESTONIA Risto Vahimets Ellex Legrand acquires Ensto Building Systems 41 FINLAND Avance Avance Hologic acquires Mobidiag Oy for $795 million FRANCE Armand Grumberg Skadden Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor of the Year 42 Gregory Berkovicz GB2A Project Finance and Public Law Adviser of the Year 16 Laurent Gautier Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier Bouygues S.A. €800 million bond issuance 44 Romain Maulin Maulin Avocats Competition Lawyer of the Year GERMANY Alan Solansky SOLANSKY RECHTSANWÄLTE Boutique SME Law Firm of the Year 45 Arndt Rautenberg Rautenberg & Company iCON Infrastructure acquires Strategic Fiber Networks Group 47 Dominik Eickemeier HEUKING KÜHN LÜER WOJTEK Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year 7 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
Felix Markowsky Rödl & Partner Viessmann acquires a minority stake in Priva 22 Lars Rüve Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Delivery Hero’s capital increase Ralf Philipp Hofmann & Julian Ostertag Drake Star Partners Investment Banking Leaders of the Year 48 Sabrina Eigenbrod wuertenberger | Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB Sanacorp takes over wholesaler Fiebig Wolfgang Hermann Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB 50 Real Estate Transactions Adviser of the Year IRELAND Paul White A&L Goodbody LLP Joint Ventures Lawyer of the Year ITALY Cristiano Agogliati Cristiano Agogliati LTA STUDIO – TAX&LAW FIRM Cortilia completes a new 34 million investment round Domenico Costantino Studio Legale Costantino 70% of Castile passes to Itelyum 26 Gilberto Cavagna di Gualdana Andersen Barberino’s opening in South Korea Michele Di Marcantonio Studio Laghi Astaldi completes the capital increases reserved for 52 Webuild and creditors PEDERSOLI Studio Legale PEDERSOLI Studio Legale Mergers and Acquisitions Firm of the Year Raffaele Battaglini Futura Law Firm Facile.it acquires MiaCar 28 Silvia Riccamboni Giammarco-Russolo-Tomezzoli Consilium sgr acquires control of Music Center Simone Bassanini Stout ATS Automation Tooling Systems acquires DF Group 54 LATVIA Edvards Merhe Merhels Revidenti Konsultanti SIA Transaction Advisory Firm of the Year LUXEMBOURG Tokbag Aysun WILDGEN Sparkasse Bremen AG sells Freie Internationale 30 Sparkasse to Sch tz Family Office 8 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
NETHERLANDS Alexander van Rossum Fortaleza Capital Van De Velde Packaging Group acquires Remmert 55 Dekker Packaging Freek Haerkens Treble Legal Corporate Transactions Firm of the Year 24 Maarten Bijnen Pure Corporate Finance Pon Bicycle acquires Smart Urban Mobility NORWAY Sverre Sandvik Wiersholm AS Nordax Bank acquires Bank Norwegian 56 POLAND Andrzej Boboli Olesiński i Wspólnicy bValue invests in Placeme 32 Malgorzata Kercz GREENBERG TRAURIG Hines’ Acquisition of Logistics Facility in Wroclaw Marek Durski Rymarz Zdort Wirtualna Polska aquires Photovoltaic Farm in Lower Silesia Stephen Horvath Greenberg Traurig Nowakowska-Zimoch Wysokiński sp.k. Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year PORTUGAL Nuno Cruz CRS Advogados ISI’s acquisition of Uniflex SPAIN José Antonio Fernández de Alarcón Roca MONLEX Tui AG is sells its shares to reduce debt SWEDEN Hillevi Börjesson MANNHEIMER SWARTLING Real Estate Transactions Lawyer of the Year SWITZERLAND Hans-Jakob Diem Lenz & Staehelin RN Acqui III SA, a subsidiary of Renaissance Evergreen 57 SA acquires Baitella Beteiligungen AG UNITED KINGDOM Adrian Moss Walker Morris LLP Studio Retail Group has agreed a deal to sell its Findel Education business to Endless for £30m Alex Haffner Fladgate LLP SharedPlay’s 1.5 Million Seed Investment Round 9 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
10 Alex Sansom Unbound Real Estate Real Estate Transactions Broker Alexander Duffy Menzies LLP Ostmodern Raises £2M in Funding Allan Fraser DICKSON MINTO Acquisition Finance Adviser of the Year Anna Rees GS Verde Corporate Transactions Legal Team of the Year Blacks Solicitors Blacks Solicitors Corporate and Commercial Law Firm of the Year 34 Edward Chapman INCE Ribcraft has been acquired by Dubai based buyer Toby Adams Graham Cornforth AZETS Cleveland Cascades acquired by Lifco Harry Walker FRP Advisory Trading Limited Mergers and Acqusitions Adviser of the Year Kathryn Gates Geldards LLP Tirion Group’s £85m regeneration of Newport’s former Whiteheads steelworks Mariya Derelieva Georgiev, Todorov & Co Gazprom export LLC finalised sales of shares of Overgas Inc Mark Hurst Hamlins LLP Real Estate Transactions Adviser of the Year Mike Bienenfeld Linklaters Wise’s Shareholder Program and US Depositary Receipt Program 59 Natalie Wright Simons Muirhead Burton Precision Proco takes over Photobox production hub Nick Wallis Gerald Edelman Rocket Medical Group Limited’s sale to Röko 36 Richard Locke Fenchirch Advisory Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Tom Newman-Young Moore Barlow PSSG acquires Online Payrolls AMERICA ARGENTINA Eduardo Romero Saenz Valiente & Asociados Launch of BIMO BRAZIL Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
11 Livia Siviero Bittencourt Huh LACAZ MARTINS, PEREIRA NETO, GUREVICH & SCHOUERI ADVOGADOS TRXF11 Real Estate Fund acquired 39 properties from Pão de Açúcar group Philippe Boutaud-Sanz CHENUT OLIVEIRA SANTIAGO Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year Thiago Moreira Mattos Filho Coca-Cola and Heineken reach a distribution agreement in Brazil CANADA Alan Chettiar FirePower Capital EiKo Global acquires Premise LED Inc. 62 Kellie Manchester Sequeira Partners Mergers and Acqusitions Adviser of the Year GUATEMALA Claudia Pereira Mayora-Mayora Banco Industrial de Guatemala raises funds to finance ‘SMEs’ MEXICO Gabriela Perez Garrigues Vulcan Capital and Freedom Financial Network’s Joint Acquisition of Crédito Real’s Interest in Resuelve tu Deuda PANAMA ARIFA ARIFA Capital Markets and Banking Firm of the Year USA Alejandro Silva Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP CAF obtains resources for the economic reactivation of Latin America Ignacio Kleiman Antarctica Advisors Corporate Advisory Firm of the Year Jane Macon Bracewell Public Finance Adviser of the Year 63 Jennifer Rosenthal The Fletcher Group Guest House raised $3 million in a seed round led by Range Ventures José-Félix Zaldívar URÍA MENÉNDEZ Falcks 22m PV acquisition in Spain Justin Albert Robert W. Baird Investment Banking Leader of the Year MarkDenham Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP United Airlines’ $10.75 Billion Debt Financing Mark Stein Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Private Equity Lawyer of the Year Michael Goss Generational Equity Ambassador Supply acquires Pioneer Industries 65 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
12 Rajiv Khanna Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC GEM Global Yield Fund LLC SCS’ $90 Million Investment in Lava International Terry Myers Gibbson Law L Catterton Completes Acquisition of BIRKENSTOCK 66 Tonya Major Gauff DLA Piper LLP Finance Lawyer of the Year ASIA HONG KONG Pinky Siu DEACONS Fubon Fund Management’s Listing of Two ETFs INDIA Raghubir Menon Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co Prosus acquires BillDesk 70 Sanjay Asher Crawford Bayley Mahindra CIE Automotive acquires 71 Aurangabad Electricals SINGAPORE Alistair Angus SI Partners VCCP Business acquires Sling & Stone 72 UAE Marcus Booth White & Case LLP DP World acquires Syncreon 73 AFRICA Jeremy Soboil IBIS Consulting Environmental and Social Due Diligence - Advisory Firm of the Year Lydia Shadrach-Razzino ENSafrica Agri & Food acquires Ascendis Animal Health 77 AUSTRALASIA Emma Wright Mainsheet Capital SLR Consulting acquires 360 Environmental 81 Pierre Briand SCD Advisory McKinsey & Company acquires Hypothesis 20 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 INDEX
Featured Winners
Gregory Berkovicz GB2A Project Finance and Public Law Adviser of the Year, France Pierre Briand SCD Advisory McKinsey & Company acquires Hypothesis, Australia Felix Markowsky Rödl & Partner. Viessmann acquires a minority stake in Priva, Germany Freek Haerkens Treble Legal Corporate Transactions Firm of the Year, Germany Domenico Costantino Legal Unity 70% of Castile passes to Itelyum, Italy Raffaele Battaglini Futura Law Firm Facile.it acquires MiaCar, Italy Tokbag Aysun WILDGEN Sparkasse Bremen AG sells Freie Internationale Sparkasse to Sch tz Family Office, Luxembourg Andrzej Boboli Olesiński i Wspólnicy bValue invests in Placeme, Poland Blacks Solicitors Corporate and Commercial Law Firm of the Year, United Kingdom Nick Wallis Gerald Edelman Rocket Medical Group Limited’s sale to Röko, United Kingdom 16 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. France 16 Project Finance and Public Law Gregory Berkovicz Adviser of the Year President GB2A
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. France 17 Gregory Berkovicz President Grégory Berkowicz, born April 1, 1974 in Lyon, is a French businessman, politician and academic. He is President of the GB2A Group and Senior Partner of GB2A AVOCATS (Grégory Berkowicz Avocats & Associé) of which he is the founder. He is notably National Deputy Vice-President of the Radical Movement, former municipal councillor of Caen and former President of Caen Event. Studies and Training Grégory Berkowicz obtained a DEA in Public Law at the University of Caen Normandy. He continued his studies and obtained a doctorate in Public Law in 2004 at the University of Caen Normandy with the congratulations of the jury and the authorization to publish. In 2005, he published a thesis published by l’Harmattan under the title “The place of the International Criminal Court in the society of States”. Career and Professional Life From 1998 to 2001, he was the consultant of Dominique Foussard, Lawyer at the Councils of the Paris region. Then from 2001 to 2004, he was the consultant in charge of legal advisory activities at the law firm JeanJacques Thouroude in Caen. Since 2011, Grégory Berkowicz has been an associate professor in charge of vocational training – PPP and project financing at the Panthéon-Sorbonne Institute of Business Administration. Finally, in 2014, Grégory Berkowicz is the Senior Partner of GB2A AVOCATS, the parent company of the GB2A group, which brings together the subsidiaries: GB2A FINANCE, GB2A INGÉNIERIE and its branch of activity GB2A INGÉNIERIE SPRINT, GB2A PROJETS, and its last subsidiary GB2A MANAGEMENT & STRATÉGIE created in 2021. Doctor in public law and former Associate Professor at the IAE of Paris Sorbonne, Grégory BERKOVICZ is senior partner of GB2A AVOCATS for more than fifteen years and President of the GB2A group. Invested in local action, he was elected from a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants, former CEO of a local Mixed Economy Company (SEM) and particularly involved in social housing, mixed economy, commercial urban planning and ecological transition. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Energy and the field of Smart City. He has written numerous books on public business law and conducts training in project financing. With his team, he has been rewarded since 2015 with the trophies of law. In 2019, he won the “Rising Team” trophy in Public Contracts and the “Silver Trophy” in regional firm and became a member of the RICS (MRICS). In 2020, Le Magazine des Affaires also awarded him the Legal Counsel of the Year Award in the Greenfield Infrastructure category for the fifth consecutive year. Focus Areas • Strategic Audit • Structuring projects • Project funding Sectors of Activity • Construction • Infrastructure • Mobility • Energy Contact GB2A www.gb2a.fr
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Aus t ra l i a 20 McKinsey & Company Hypothesis Pierre Briand Founder SCD Advisory acquires
scdadvisory.com Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 Aus t ra l i a 21 An independent Australian corporate and M&A advisory boutique, dedicated to people and IP based businesses. Trust We become trusted advisors “You’ll be in safe hands” Expertise We leverage our sectorial insight “Their experience is invaluable” Outcome-driven We are transaction enablers “Their passion is contagious” What We Do We provide end-to-end transaction advisory: From acquisition to exit strategy, from transaction preparation to deal execution. Strategy Vendor Readiness | Board Advisory We get you transaction ready. We develop an optimal M&A strategy for your shareholders, increasing the chance of a successful transaction. Capital MBI & MBO | Private Equity We assist you in solving your private share capital needs: whether this involves joining a new business as a shareholder- manager, or partial or full exits. Deal Sell Side | Buy Side We design and execute a transaction process aligned with your strategic objectives, whether that be on the sell side or buy side. Our Focus Software & IT Services Design & Engineering Services Management Consulting Media & Communication Pierre has 25 years of experience advising entrepreneurs, with a management & financial advisory background in corporate finance, private banking and wealth management. He has worked on numerous sell-side and buy-side deals, IPOs, mergers, integrations, and consulting projects in both small businesses and large global corporates. He is an experienced, established, savvy and trusted adviser. Pierre started his career in Australia. He moved back to France where he worked for a French billionaire François Pinault on M&A deals within the Artemis group. He created his M&A Small Cap firm (BC&D) in Paris and delivered corporate advisory services in Europe, from origination to execution. He had also advised entrepreneurs on their personal wealth management when finalising transition events on their business. In Paris, Pierre worked in advisory for a Belgium Family Office (DeGroof) and for JP Morgan as a senior private banker as head of the HNW segment for France. Pierre returned to Australia in 2015. In Sydney, he created and developed the ANZ subsidiary of Equiteq. During his 3-year tenure with Equiteq, he executed 9 M&A transactions advising clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth before launching SCD Advisory in January 2019 and closing 12 transactions since. In January 2020, Pierre completed the “Leading Professional Services Firms” program at the Harvard Business School. SCD ADVISORY Trusted Advisers - Transaction Enablers PIERRE BRIAND MANAGING PARTNER
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Germany 22 Viessmann Priva Felix Markowsky Associate Partner acquires minority stake in
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 Germany 23 Felix Markowsky ASSOCIATE PARTNER Felix is an Associate Partner in our Transaction Advisory team, located in Eschborn / Frankfurt. He started his career at Rödl & Partner about 7 years ago, and since then has accompanied numerous transactions on sell- and buy-side. Felix generally advises Private Equity firms as well as companies of the German “Mittelstand” on investments in SMEs and has significant experience in national as well as cross-border transactions, having led project teams across Europe. His core competencies are in the area of financial due diligence and SPA advice. Rödl & Partner Rödl & Partner is an integrated professional services firm offering legal, tax, audit and business management consulting services. Combining an interdisciplinary approach and a global reach, Rödl & Partner is the agile caring partner for Mittelstand shaped world market leaders. Founded in Nuremberg in 1977, Rödl & Partner currently operates from 106 offices in 48 countries around the world. We believe that clients’ needs and projects cannot be separated into individual professional disciplines. Rödl & Partner acts as a one-stop shop providing international expertise from a single source with a long-term focus, having chosen to establish our own offices and to rely on close, multidisciplinary and cross-border collaboration among our colleagues rather than relying on a network of franchises or affiliates. Following this approach, our Transaction Advisory team utilizes transaction services professionals, lawyers, tax advisors and auditors to provide advice for ongoing company acquisitions and sales to internationally active family-owned businesses, investment companies and strategic investors. Our experts provide highly qualified advice on all relevant matters, prepare key information for all stakeholders and, in doing so, help the client save valuable time. In this way, and regardless of whether a buyer or a seller is involved, Rödl & Partner creates the basis for successful negotiations. Our transaction advisory professionals are primarily focused on advising in transaction and valuation related matters, including buy-side due diligence, sell-side due diligence, vendor assistance, fact books, exit readiness review, business valuations, purchase price allocation, impairment testing, financial modeling for planning, reporting, valuation, investment and financing as well as SPA advice. Transaction Report Viessmann acquires minority stake in Priva In April 2021, Viessmann Group, the leading provider of climate solutions for every type of living space, acquired a minority stake in the greenhouse specialist Priva Group, a Dutch technology company for climate and process control technology and energy efficiency. The resulting strategic partnership allows Priva to rely on an international and strategic partner and to accelerate its innovative technologies and international growth. Viessmann can rapidly develop its business in the field of climate solutions for commercial buildings and explore business opportunities in the growing market of indoor and vertical farming. Viessmann was comprehensively advised on this cross-border transaction in all financial and tax related transaction issues by an interdisciplinary team of Rödl & Partner. Representing the foundation of an international partnership of two family owned businesses with global reach, Rödl & Partner was a natural fit to accompany this transaction project as advisor, benefitting from its strong presence among family businesses and extensive knowledge in small- and mid-cap transactions. Contact T: +49 (0) 6196 76114771 M: +49 (0) 160 92674302 E: felix.markowsky@roedl.com W: www.roedl.de
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Nether l ands 24 Corporate Transactions Freek Haerkens TREBLE Emmasingel 33 5611AZ Eindhoven (NL) +31 (0)40 231 01 38 www.treble.legal info@treble.legal Freek Haerkens freek@treble.legal Natascha Linssen natascha@treble.legal Firm of the Year Founder Treble Legal
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Nether l ands 25 Freek Haerkens Founder Freek Haerkens is attorney-at-law and founder of TREBLE. Freek has over 25 years of experience in supervising mergers and acquisitions, setting up collaborations, participations and governance structures. Freek has previously worked at mid-sized and large law firms (Baker McKenzie, Rassers and Van Iersel Luchtman) and in business as legal counsel at Royal Cosun and most recently as Director of Operations & Compliance at Van Mossel Automotive Groep. Treble TREBLE is a boutique law firm residing in Brainport Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Europe’s leading innovative region. In the south of the Netherlands it is the only firm that combines profound expertise in the field of M&A and competition law. TREBLE therefore enables its clients to have an unique one stop shopping for transactions that have to be filed with the competition authorities or that need specific guidance related to competition law issues. TREBLE focuses on: Corporate - full legal support in M&A transactions Compliance – advise and litigation on competition law, market regulation and privacy law Contracts - drafting, checking and negotiating commercial contracts The TREBLE team consists of its founders Freek Haerkens and Natascha Linssen, committed, driven and goaloriented team players with fun in their profession. Reliable specialists who will advise their clients quickly and without fuss. Who are good at what they do and efficiently add value. Natascha specialises in competition law and sectorspecific regulation (telecom, transport (mobility services), healthcare and consumer regulations). For more than 15 years, she has successfully assisted companies in obtaining competition clearance for their transactions. Natascha has previously worked for the Dutch competition authority ACM and mid-sized and large law firms (Bird&Bird, Van Iersel Luchtman and Dirkzwager). Notable Deals & Transactions TREBLE acts on both buy and sell side for SME’s, corporates and investors in national and cross border transactions. In 2021, TREBLE has been involved in more than 30 transactions, representing an aggregate deal value in excess of EUR 250,000,000. In 2021 the TREBLE team has amongst others assisted in: • the investment in Nord Lommerse Flower Bulb Group by Smart Impact Investment • the investment in Dimensys by Holland Capital • the sale of Verbufa to the Handtmann Group • the sale of Gripp to Exact • the investment in Capitalmind by Investec • the acquisition of Van Lente Systeemintegratie by Van Doren Engineers • the sale of Odysseus to Deloitte Consulting Automotive expertise TREBLE has considerable experience in the execution of transactions in the automotive sector. And like no other, TREBLE knows the way to the ACM (the Dutch competition authority) for merger notifications in this sector. In 2021, TREBLE has amongst others assisted in • the sale by Auto Smolders of its Hyundai, Mazda and Suzuki dealer activities to (respectively) Content Autogroep, Louwman Groep and Autobedrijf Winters • the management participation in M. de Koning Autobedrijven • the formation of a new Steza joint venture by Nissan dealers Beltman, Aben en van de Schelde en Auto Lesscher • the acquisition by Noteboom (AutoBinck Group) of Citroën/DS dealer activities in Rotterdam and Capelle a/d/ IJssel • the buy out by Van Mossel Automotive Group of its partner in the Renault/Nissan/Dacia joint venture Van Mossel VKV • the sale by Zijm of its VAG dealer activities to Vallei Auto Groep and its leasing activities to VPWFS
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. I ta l y 26 Castile Itelyum Domenico Costantino Founder Partner Studio Legale Costantino passes to 70% of
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. I ta l y 27 Domenico Costantino Founder Partner Domenico Costantino is a lawyer specialized in sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions and has managed numerous transactions creating bespoke agreements for his clients. More than 20 years of experience, Domenico carries out his professional activity in various areas of law, offering legal advice and assistance to both individual and legal persons. Graduated at the University of Bari in 1997 in Law summa cum laude, applause from the commission and invitation to pursue his studies, he licensed as a lawyer in 2001. His ability to seek practical solutions to complicated problems emerges already in 1999 when he is praised, as a complement officer of the Italian finance police, for having solved “with marked motivation, deep competence, spirit of sacrifice and commendable enthusiasm” numerous and complex problems related to the assignments, providing his superiors with unconditional collaboration, loyal and productive. In addition to being a lawyer, Domenico is adjunct professor of family law at the Department of Law of the University of Bari, professor of the integrated course of Legal Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine - Department of Sciences of Motor Activities and professor of Private Law in sports at the Faculty of Medicine - Department of Sports Sciences and Techniques. He is the founder and member of the board of the Chamber for Insolvency Procedures of Bari, of the board of the Civil Chamber of Bari, arbitrator of the Arbitration Court of Bari and member of the Scientific Committee of the Bari Forensic School. Also expert in family law, he is a member of the Family Commission of the National Union of Civil Chambers, of the Observatory of Family Law of Bari and since 2021 he has been a consultant to the Parliamentary Commission of inquiry on the acts happened at the Community «Il Forteto». His skills also extend to sports law: he is a professor of Sports Law at the Italian Football Association (F.I.G.C.) and the Italian Olympic Games Committee (C.O.N.I.), as well as a member of the National Commission for School Activity FIGC. In this area, he was coordinator of the Legal Clinic of private law in the sports field called “Sport and Law”, founded by the Department of Law of the University of Bari and the Italian Football Association, particularly referred to the protection of minors in Sport as an element of innovation and development for the next European generations. Domenico is a member of the Commission for school activities of the Italian Football Association and President of the Commission for Child Protection Experts established by the Board of Directors of the Youth and School Sector of the Italian Football Association. Studio Legale Costantino is a law firm with a great family tradition, based in Bari. Studio Costantino brings together professionals with different experiences and consolidated skills, who manage activities with a synergistic and multidisciplinary approach in the field of civil, corporate, bankruptcy law, property, contracts and family. Studio Costantino operates nationally and internationally, offering individual and legal persons integrated judicial assistance and specialist advice services in various areas of law, as well as providing its clients with ever greater reliability and effectiveness. Another main asset of the Firm is that of the management of family successions in private and corporate clothes: it is a very delicate topic whose underestimation often generates irreducible conflicts to the detriment of the performance of companies. The Firm legally guides its clients in all stages of the transaction process, from the identification of potential M&A opportunities to the structuring and negotiation of the final terms of the agreements. The high professionalism, together with the attention paid to the client, constitutes for Studio Legale Costantino an essential requirement of its activity and gives it the ability to identify concrete, simple and rapid judicial and extrajudicial solutions for its clients. Contact W. studiolegalecostantino.it T: +390805245093 E: segreteria@studiolegalecostantino.it
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. I ta l y 28 Facile.it MiaCar Raffaele Battaglini CEO & Founder Futura acquires
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. I ta l y 29 Raffaele Battaglini CEO & Founder Futura Raffaele Battaglini (LL.M.) is a qualified lawyer in Italy, CEO and Founder of Futura. He assists startups and innovative companies in M&A deals and commercial contracts as well as in setting the legal framework when adopting new technologies such as blockchain and AI, tokenization and smart legal contracts. In 2006 he obtained an LL.M. in Innovation, Technology and the Law from the University of Edinburgh. He is also author and speaker on topics related to new technologies, working with publishers, universities and conferences. He is one of the Co-Organiser of Legal Hackers Torino, the first Italian chapter of the global Legal Hackers community. Futura Law Firm Futura is an innovative form of law firm consistent with the trends and perspectives of the legal market and a brand under which even ‘non-lawyers’ feel represented. Futura is focused on two areas, new technologies and sustainability, areas that require services provided by experts with not only legal expertise. Futura is therefore a modern space where lawyers, a digital entrepreneur and a strategy expert work together. This is how Futura was born, as a project regarding innovation at all levels: new technologies, social impact, legal profession in a cross-disciplinary way for legal vision and strategy. Indeed, ‘futura’ is a latin noun meaning ‘future things’. Futura is a benefit company because it has imposed on itself a statutory duty to balance its profit objective with the interests of those third parties on whom its activities have or may have an impact. This is why the by-laws, putting the person at the centre, provides for specific obligations such as respect, transparency, sharing, freedom and sustainability, linked to activities that, in the intentions of the members, will create a positive impact on people, the environment, the community, employees, collaborators, consultants, customers, suppliers, lenders and creditors. Sustainability - social, economic and environmental - is a way of thinking and acting as well as a form of innovative design. Futura divulges its know-how through its channel on Telegram and the podcast Next Legal on Spotify. Transaction Report Futura, with Raffaele Battaglini, assisted the sellers of the innovative start-up MiaCar S.r.l. in the sale of its entire share capital to Facile.it, managing the structure, corporate aspects and contractual profiles of the transaction. MiaCar S.r.l. is an innovative start-up, the first Italian marketplace for new cars available for immediate delivery from official dealers. Facile.it is a platform leader in comparing insurances, financing products, energy tariffs and, in general, the main items of expenditure of Italian families. Contact www.futura.legal info@futura.legal
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Luxembourg 30 Sparkasse Bremen AG Freie Internationale Sparkasse Schütz Family Office MevlüdeAysun’ Tokbag Partner Wildgen S.A. sells to
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Luxembourg 31 MEVLÜDE-AYSUN’ TOKBAG PARTNER Part of Wildgen’s management team since 2013, Partner Mevlüde-Aysun Tokbag, co-heads both the Banking & Finance and the Investment Funds practice groups at Wildgen. As Head of the Wildgen German Desk, which includes a team of multidisciplinary German-national Rechtsanwälte, she provides German-speaking clients with a mix of legal excellence and shared understanding in regulatory banking and investment fund matters as well as mergers and acquisitions, private equity, insurance and real estate. Regulatory structuring of and for German-speaking companies are areas in which Mevlüde-Aysun provides excellent advice and support. Her clients include a number of institutional groups and investment funds, as well as corporates, insurance companies and investors. Mevlüde-Aysun also has been involved in a number of high-profile finance transactions. Having advised both lenders and borrowers, she has comprehensive experience with the issues faced by different parties to such operations. After beginning her career with Wildgen in 2005 and being admitted to the Bar Associations in Germany and Luxembourg in 2006, Mevlüde-Aysun is a Recommended Lawyer by various international rankings. For the second year in a row, her Foreign Expertise in Germany has been rated by Chambers & Partners. “Mevlüde-Aysun Tokbag is an excellent lawyer, who communicates well and has strong skills and competencies” stated a client. In addition, Mevlüde-Aysun is highly committed to social initiatives. She founded and heads theWildgen 4 Women project, born from a desire for expanded access to learning, leveraging and leadership opportunities. The project aims to provide ideas that will positively influence banking, financial and legal industry perceptions and practices, and facilitate an environment that supports women’s advancement by organising, among others, women-only events and training sessions. In March 2021, MevlüdeAysun was featured as a Woman Leading Partner by the main Luxembourg business journal in its Top 100 leading women. WILDGEN Since 1923, WILDGEN has been at the heart of legal practice in Luxembourg. Today it is one of the best known and well-respected law firms in Luxembourg, possessing a strong track record and continuing to offer sound technical expertise. For decades the firm has served clients as a fullservice corporate, financial, tax, and business law firm and continue to assist them in achieving success with their goals. Wildgen’s lawyers have years of experience in the industry sectors of their clients and facilitate the most complex financial procedures and transactions for them. While fully independent, Wildgen boasts a wide-ranging and long-established network of experts worldwide. Transaction Report With the support of Associate Garry Reuland, a member of Wildgen’s German Desk, MevlüdeAysun is proud to have successfully advised, in collaboration with KPMG Law, Sparkasse Bremen on the sale of all Freie Internationale Sparkasse shares to Schütz Family Office. With the sale of Freie Internationale Sparkasse, its Luxembourg branch well established on the private banking market, Die Sparkasse Bremen intends to refocus on its core business in Bremen. KPMG Law acted as a legal advisor to Sparkasse Bremen. Wildgen supported KPMG Law on all aspects of the Luxembourg law. Contact 69, Bd de la Pétrusse | L-2320 Luxembourg T.: (+352) 40 49 60 1 | F.: (+352) 40 44 09 E.: lawyers@wildgen.lu www.wildgen.lu R.C.S. Luxembourg: B212946 VAT: LU-29245905
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Po l and 32 bValue Placeme Andrzej Boboli Manager, IP/TMT Practice Leader Olesiński & Wspólnicy invests in
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 Po l and 33 Andrzej Boboli Manager, IP/TMT Practice Leader Since joining Olesiński & Wspólnicy in 2015, Andrzej Boboli has been working to expand the firm’s expertise in the high-tech and TMT sectors, resulting in the development of a strong, comprehensive practice with proficiency in all aspects of new technologies. As the leader of the IP/TMT practice, he successfully combines superior legal expertise with a business-oriented approach, constantly working with clients from the tech, eCommerce and video game industries. Having worked with entities operating primarily in the area of new technologies, his professional experience includes securing some of the largest eCommerce launches in Poland and advisory for the largest start-ups in Central & Eastern Europe, as well as protecting investments in data-driven companies. Andrzej’s track record of projects includes a oneof-a-kind transaction covering the sale of video games (the largest-ever such transaction in Poland), securing data and intellectual property transfers in a merger to create the world’s largest booking services marketplace, securing brand protection for a Nobel Prize winner and securing from a legal point of view eCommerce solutions that have been granted awards such as #best on Mobile #2019, Las Vegas Imagine Excellence 2018, Effie Award 2018 and many others. Andrzej was recognised in the Legal 500 EMEA ranking as a Recommended Lawyer in the TMT and Data Protection & Privacy categories. Olesiński & Wspólnicy Throughout 16 years of market presence in the areas of law, tax, accounting and business analytics Olesiński & Wspólnicy has developed an innovative approach to working with clients, which goes far beyond the legal advice offered by most law firms. Operating as the O&W group, which also includes an analytical hub (O&W Analytics), allows Olesiński & Wspólnicy to assist clients in every area of business. The in-house analytical and technological hub ensures that each of the client’s cases can be viewed from two perspectives: legal and business, with the awarded transaction being an excellent example of the comprehensiveness of the firm’s actions. Focusing on the continuously growing TMT industry, Olesiński & Wspólnicy positions itself as a team of entrepreneurs using new technologies in their own business and focusing on creating original IT tools. This makes it possible to understand the challenges associated with the processes of implementing new technologies in action. Among the company’s customer portfolio there are: - start-ups receiving support in the process of obtaining external financing, with O&W’s support with preparing pitch-decks and legal advisory on the key milestones at the initial stage of a start-up’s life (like transfers of IP rights or obtaining IP protection – in over 40 jurisdictions); - scale-ups growing to large tech-oriented companies in the CEE Region, with O&W supporting their scale transition from local to global and securing compliance issues coming with rapidly growing userbases; - some of the largest stock-listed companies in Europe in the process of continuous growth and adapting to the changing legal environment. Transaction Report Olesiński & Wspólnicy advised bValue, a venture capital firm investing in CEE, on the international acquisition of shares in a company providing an analytical platform aimed at businesses conducted in the real (offline) world – Placeme. The innovative ‘location intelligence’ platform provides comprehensive data on customer behaviour and offline traffic, competitor activities and infrastructure in any chosen location, based on geospatial data. Through close cooperation between the VC and TMT teams, Olesiński & Wspólnicy provided support to the new shareholder in conducting due diligence and preparing the complex investment, including option rights and reverse vesting. Moreover, thanks to their expertise in the IT field, the Olesiński & Wspólnicy team undertook not only analysis of documents but also included legal coverage of technological aspects, including analysis of the project’s source code. Contact M: +48 532 857 937 E: andrzej.boboli@olesinski.com
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Un i ted K i ngdom 34 Corporate and Commercial Matthew Hutchinson Law Firm of the Year Blacks Solicitors Partner
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 Un i ted K i ngdom 35 Matthew Hutchinson Partner Matthew Hutchinson qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and has worked at Blacks Solicitors since 2016. He currently works in the Commercial Property team where he became a Partner in 2018. Matt has a wide range of experience in commercial property transactions, and has recently assisted clients with complex development transactions, landlord and tenant issues, and sales and purchases. He regularly works on corporate deals with a property element, with clients including residential developers, landowners, commercial property investment companies, and commercial developers. In addition, Matt also leads Blacks’ experienced Commercial Property Finance team which specialises in acting for lenders, and borrowers, in property finance transactions. Recent deals have included acting for a developer on financing a part built student accommodation development of 150 units, and acting for a lender on a large industrial portfolio refinance. Matt is recognised by The Legal 500 as having “strong communication skills and is very level headed”. Blacks Solicitors Blacks Solicitors is a 27 partner firm providing a wide range of legal services to commercial and private clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. With 180 employees, the Firm continues to go from strength to strength. Operating from its Head Office at City Point in Leeds, Blacks believes in delivering a first class service to all of its clients, whilst providing expert advice at realistic rates. To achieve this, Blacks takes the time to get to know and understand its clients, building long-term relationships to deliver the best results possible, and ensuring that support is delivered when and where it is needed. Blacks provides advice on: Corporate & Commercial Law; Commercial Property; Leasehold Enfranchisement; Planning & Highways law; Employment & Human Resources; Commercial and Civil Dispute Resolution/Litigation; Residential Property/Conveyancing; Wills & Probate; and Family law. In addition, Blacks also acts for clients across a range of niche sectors including: Healthcare; Education; Leisure & Hospitality (including Holiday & Home Parks and Hotels); and Sport. Transaction Report The Rugby Football League (RFL) announced the sale of its historic headquarters Red Hall House, near Roundhay Park in Leeds, after 26 years at the premises in March 2021. The Commercial Property team at Blacks Solicitors advised the RFL on the sale of its head office ahead of a relocation to Sport City at the Etihad Campus in Manchester. Blacks was chosen thanks to the longstanding relationship with the RFL, and the excellent service provided by the Commercial Property team. Led by Matthew Hutchinson, the team at Blacks provided the RFL with swift commercial property advice, enabling the exchange of the premises to take place within 72 hours of terms being agreed with the buyer. Red Hall House was purchased for over £1.65 million by Dr Faisal Arshad, Lead Surgeon at the Hair Dr Hair Transplant Clinic, in order to establish a private cosmetic surgery hospital. The RFL is the national governing body for Rugby League in the UK. It is committed to developing and growing Rugby League at all levels. It administers a number of leagues including the England Rugby League teams, the Great Britain Rugby League Lions team, the Betfred Challenge Cup and Women’s Challenge Cup, and the Betfred Women’s Super League. Contact W: www.lawblacks.com.
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Un i ted K i ngdom 36 Rocket Medical Group Limited’s Röko Nick Wallis Partner Gerald Edelman sale to
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Un i ted K i ngdom 37 My name is Nick Wallis, I am a partner at Gerald Edelman and head up the firm’s Deal Advisory division. Gerald Edelman is a leading mid-market accountancy firm with 16 partners and over 140 employees based in the city of London. The firm was formed by the late Gerald Edelman in the 1940s and remains committed to businesses, thinking beyond accountancy and delivering a wide range of financial, deal-specific and strategic business advice. Our philosophy and aspirations are to deliver genuinely exceptional experiences to clients and others. Through Gerald Edelman’s business advisory and professional services (including accounts, audit and tax), we build real relationships with clients and deliver solutions that are unique and transformative. Bringing concepts to life and driving businesses forward. Gerald Edelman is so much more than an accountant, which is why the business strives to break away from the term ‘accountant’. Thinking beyond compliance, it instead identifies itself as a ‘client’s first port of call’, to helping them think and grow beyond their limits. In our Deal Advisory team, we advise clients looking to sell their business, raise equity or debt capital, or acquire a business in the lower midmarket space, with deal values from £2-£100 million. We work across all different sectors and so far in the last year have completed deals in the CBD manufacturing, medical devices, telecoms, financial services, assisted technology, healthcare, leisure and consumer products sectors, to name but a few. Can you tell us more about your involvement with the sale of Rocket Medical Group to Röko? In the Rocket Medical deal, we advised the sellers on the sale to Röko. We firstly identified Röko as an excellent buyer for our client, given their long-term investment strategy and willingness to keep things business as usual, which were two important characteristics for our client, given that it was a family business that had been around for many years. Subsequently we helped to structure and negotiate the deal for our client, ultimately ending up with an excellent deal for both sides. We also helped throughout the complexities of the transaction, handholding our clients and advising on the various issues that came up, whilst also assisting to take as much of the pain of due diligence away from the sellers (and the finance team) as possible. We were delighted to get this deal over the line for our clients, and to see both our client and the buyer extremely satisfied, which shows that we had done our job! How do you measure your success? As a business, our success is measured by happy clients, and successfully completing deals for our clients. We have an excellent track record at delivering this, with deal values mostly in excess of what our clients expect – driven by running an efficient process to drive competitive tension, and by spending time to prepare the business for sale, driving saleability and value in advance of taking the business to market. Our success in the last year has been demonstrated through the successful deal completions for our clients, with many very happy to write glowing testimonials! Clients have appreciated our experience and expertise, but also our honesty. We provide advice that our clients need to hear, rather than advice that they want to hear. This helps forge exceptional relationships and leads to successful outcomes. What are your plans for 2022 and beyond? Our plans are to continue to grow. Gerald Edelman is known for being an exceptional mid-market firm and we are on track to being recognised as an exceptional M&A advisory firm too, despite only actively having a formal lead advisory team for the last 3 years. We have plenty more deals in the pipeline, our team is growing, and we hope and except to have an excellent 2022 following an exceptional 2021! NICK WALLIS Partner Nick Wallis Gerald Edelman 73 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3QQ T: +44 (0)20 7299 1420 Mobile: +44 (0)7950 393 378 nwallis@geraldedelman.com https://www.geraldedelman.com
Europe
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Be l gi um 40 Gisèle Rosselle Partner Gisèle Rosselle is a partner in our Corporate & Finance practice. She focuses on corporate and domestic and crossborder M&A, private equity project finance and capital market transactions. She has represented and is representing numerous public and private businesses in M&A with a particular focus on clients and matters from the technology sector. Education Gisèle obtained a Master of Laws degree from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) in 1992, a post-graduate diploma in EC Law (Diplôme des Etudes Approfondies en Droit Communautaire) Energy One EGSSIS from University d’Aix-Marseille III in 1993, a postgraduate diploma in International Trade Law from the University of European Studies in Turin in 1994, completed post-graduate studies in Arts Management from the University of Antwerp (UFSIA) in 2001 and an Executive Master’s Degree from the INSEAD Business School in 2013. Strelia Strelia is based in the heart of Europe, with head offices in Brussels and Luxembourg. We focus on general corporate law, commercial matters, and dispute resolution. We advise clients on M&A, Private Equity, Corporate, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Commercial Agreements, Restructuring & Insolvency, Tax, Employment & Benefits, Dispute Resolution, Competition Law & Regulatory and Real Estate & Administrative Law. www.strelia.com/en Acquires Gisèle Rosselle Partner Strelia
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. Es ton i a 41 Risto Vahimets Partner Risto Vahimets is a partner and one of Estonia’s most experienced and renowned M&A practitioners, focusing mainly on M&A and strategic advisory, as well as on restructuring and distressed advisory. He also has an excellent understanding of finance and company valuation. Thanks to his long-term experience, Risto has an excellent eye for detecting what is valuable and what is not in a company to be acquired. Risto has worked in the Baltic M&A scene for over 20 years. Historically, he has served (including as chairman) on the boards of various companies, from the financial sector to wholesale and medicine. Today he is a member of the Supervisory Board of Fifaa, Sportland International Group, Pontos Baltic and is a member of the Management Board of R8Tech Strategy Committee and Leden Group Oy. Legrand Ensto Building Systems He has often started working with companies on some acquisition or restructuring cases, and from there the advice has expanded to more complex strategic decisions. Risto has closed hundreds of deals in various sectors, such as financial services, energy, logistics, infrastructure, electronics, agriculture, real estate, telecoms, and retail. Ellex Internationally recognized law firm from the Baltics Achieving stellar results can be challenging. But with Ellex as a trusted strategic partner, you have a team of 200+ experienced and knowledgeable legal specialists to help your business develop winning strategies. Drawing on nearly 30 years of local expertise from across the Baltics, Ellex’s interconnected network will support and drive your success. www.ellex.legal Acquires Risto Vahimets Partner Ellex
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022. France 42 M&A Armand Grumberg Armand W. Grumberg Partner T: 33.1.55.27.11.95 E: armand.grumberg@skadden.com Adviser of the Year Partner Skadden
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2022 France 43 Armand Grumberg Partner Armand Grumberg is the head of Skadden’s European Mergers and Acquisitions practice and the leader of the firm’s Paris office. He has extensive experience in strategic and complex cross-border transactions, including public and private acquisitions, contested and hostile bids, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, and capital markets transactions. Mr. Grumberg also has significant experience in shareholder activist-related matters. Prior to joining Skadden in 2003, he practiced law in the New York, London and Paris offices of another leading international law firm. Transactions in which he has acted include: • Air France-KLM in connection with corporate and governance matters relating to the €4 billion recapitalization measures approved by the European Commission in April 2021; • LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.E. in its $15.8 billion acquisition of Tiffany & Co.; • Renault in the proposed (but withdrawn) €32.6 billion 50/50 merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; in matters relating to the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance; in its $1.3 billion strategic acquisition of a 25 percent stake in AvtoVAZ; and Renault V.I. in the combination of its bus business with Iveco; • SCOR in numerous transactions, including: its successful defense against a €8.3 billion unsolicited takeover proposal from COVEA; its defense against claims made by the activist fund CIAM; the equity investment by COVEA; the equity investment by Sompo; its acquisition of a controlling interest in Presses Universitaires de France; its $750 million acquisition of Generali U.S. and its acquisition of a controlling stake in MRM; its CHF315 million perpetual subordinated notes and cornerstone investment in the IPO of PICC Group; its $912.5 million acquisition of Transamerica Re’s mortality business from Aegon and its CHF625 million perpetual fixed- to-floating rate step-up notes; its €150 million contingent capital equity line; its sale of its stake in Gecimed; its CHF3.3 billion acquisition of Converium Holding AG (the first successful unsolicited takeover bid ever in the reinsurance industry) and the creation of three Societas Europaea (including the first publicly listed SE in France); its €605 million acquisition of Revios, €377 million rights offering, €350 million deeply subordinated notes offering and spin- off of its non-life reinsurance activities to SCOR GLOBAL P&C; its €232 million rights offering and acquisition of a 46.65 percent stake in IRP Holdings Limited from Highfields Capital for €183.1 million; its €200 convertible-exchangeable bond (OCEANEs) offering; and its group reorganization, including its €751 million rights offering and the spin-off of its life reinsurance activities to SCOR VIE; • Dassault Systèmes in its $5.8 billion acquisition of Medidata Solutions, Inc.; • Westfield Corporation in its combination with Unibail-Rodamco SE, creating the world’s premier developer and operator of flagship shopping destinations, with the new group’s stapled securities listed on the Euronext Paris and Amsterdam. The transaction implied an enterprise value for Westfield Corporation of $24.7 billion; • Capgemini in numerous transactions, including: its sale of Odigo to Apax Partners; its $4 billion acquisition of IGATE; its acquisition of Euriware from Areva; the BRL321 million sale of a 22% stake of its Brazilian subsidiary CPM Braxis to Caixa Econômica Federal; its €233 million acquisition of a 55% stake in Brazilian IT services company CPM Braxis; its acquisition of the Latin American financial shared services operations of the Unilever Group; its €507.2 million capital increase, $1.25 billion acquisition of Kanbay and acquisition of a 51% interest in Indigo from the Unilever Group; and its $12.1 billion acquisition of the consulting business of Ernst & Young; • Auchan Retail S.A. on the acquisition of a 36.16 percent stake in its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary Sun Art Retail Group Ltd. by Alibaba Group Holding Limited for $2.88 billion; • Nokia in its combination, through a €15.6 billion public exchange offer, with Alcatel- Lucent.
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