CORPORATE
Mergers & Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions lies at the heart of our Corporate practice and we have established a strong reputation for transactional work. We work across a broad range of sectors, advising private companies on matters including asset and share sales and purchases;Â private equity transactions and restructurings.
We work with clients both in the UK and internationally and we have considerable experience with complex and high-profile transactions. Our M&A lawyers work with various sector specialists within our firm to provide expert advice. Our collaborative approach allows us to take on a broad range of complex transactions.
We bring a business first approach to our legal advice, using our M&A and sector expertise and our network of connections to get the best outcome for our clients. This enables our lawyers to concentrate on what is important – providing you with strategy, value and support throughout the entire transaction process. This will include assistance in planning the structure of the transaction, carrying out targeted legal due diligence, preparing all relevant documentation and negotiating the transaction through to completion.
Services
Our mergers and acquisition lawyers advise on a broad and diverse range of sectors having particular expertise in the following:
- Private company acquisitions and disposals (shares and assets)
- Private equity transactions
- Management buy-outs and buy-ins
- Transactions involving reorganisations and demergers
- Restructuring and reorganisations
For more information about our corporate legal services please call us on +44 (0)20 3475 6751 or email info@carterbond.co.uk
What to consider before a merger or acquisition
Are you considering a merger or acquisition? We can help provide confidential legal advice on M&A activity, including carrying out due diligence.
Mergers and acquisitions, often referred to as M&A, is a fundamental part of corporate law which is particularly complex. Involving significant finances and strategic planning, M&A needs to be carried out very carefully to be a success.
M&A defies standard procedure and every case requires individual attention and a customised approach. Involving reorganisation, restructuring, financing and risk management, M&A demands a multifaceted approach and a meticulous understanding of corporate law.
The basics of M&A
M&A could occur when either one company seeks to buy another one outright (an acquisition) or two companies agree to come together and combine their operations (a merger). An acquisition can be an indication that the company doing the buying is profitable and doing well.
In contrast, in some cases two companies coming together (a merger) may be an indication that both are struggling financially, or are finding market conditions challenging. This isn’t always the case but is worth considering. A merger can also be a way for a company to grow and expand while eradicating a competitor.
Both publicly listed and private companies may be involved in M&A activity. The purpose may also be to add new ranges to an existing group of products or services.
Legal responsibilities
- Drafting and negotiating the agreements. This will involve many parties including both businesses, the other legal team plus any external financial advisors.
- Due diligence. This is a vital part of the process and allows information to be gathered to check if there are any hidden liabilities or issues that need to be considered.
- Organising the financing by liaising with banks and finance firms.
- Completing the transaction.
- Ensuring that all post-completion regulatory activity and registrations are finalised.
We have specialist knowledge in M&A transactions and can provide support for the whole process from enquiry through to completion.
YOUR CORPORATE LEGAL TEAM
Naju Chowdhury
Commercial Solicitor
Hammad Naveed
Corporate Solicitor
Reena Popat
Managing Partner
HIGHLIGHTS
In the last few years, we have successfully completed over £700m of corporate transactions
We were awarded the M&A Awards 2019 by Acquisition International Magazine
Dealing with a cross-border $20m merger and acquisition with founder earnouts
WHY CARTER BOND
Partner Led
Unlike many law firms when we say partner or barrister led, we mean partner or barrister led. When clients work with us, they get constant access to the lead on their instruction. Yes, we have a team of solicitors and juniors for some of the groundwork and necessary research required by our clients, but this is when it makes financial sense to the client for us to do this. We provide constant contact at no extra cost as part of our service as most of our lawyers have their own business, so they know first-hand how important having a proactive, responsible and trusted partner on their side can be. And also how to work to a financial budget, and the way that legal decisions impact the wider organisation, which often requires balancing risks and competing interests.
Proactive Contact
Many ask us ‘what’s different about you?’ and we like to reply, ‘because we go the extra mile’. We see our work as building and maintaining good business relationships rather than just earning fees. How we do this is by keeping in constant contact with our clients and intermediaries. From pre to post instruction we ensure that our clients are informed of all legal issues that may impact their business and therefore lives. That is why we provide daily or weekly updates to ALL of our clients whether there is anything to tell them or not (we don’t charge for this we just see it as part of our service). We like our clients to rest peacefully knowing that when we are instructed, and we say ‘we will take it from here’ they know we mean it.
City quality, outer City fees
The world is changing, and many individuals are realising that lifestyle is as vital to them as is income. We are the lucky ones who can hand pick lawyers who can provide the best quality advice but at outer city costs. Our offices are in North West London which may not be the most salubrious in the market but at the same time this allows us to charge our clients for what they pay for, our advice NOT our office space.
ALL our lawyers have previously worked in large city-based law firms and continue to practise and offer the same high level service they provided to clients in the City but without the pressure and demands often dictated by City law firm. This allows us to be competitive on our fees without compromising our service.
All in all, our clients win, which is the way we like it.
Our knowledge and resources are yours
All our clients benefit from the same high level of care and attention whether the instruction is big or small. At the outset of each matter, we discuss the entire process with our clients, including the costs, potential outcomes and issues associated. This is to ensure clients are fully aware, knowledgeable and are in control always. Supporting and ensuring we provide the highest level of services, we offer our constant contact process with the partner or barrister leading your file, a document log in for matters which are for larger and more complicated instructions and on-going support post transaction should our clients require it. Our aim is not just to get the work done, but to make our clients’ lives easier as we do it, which is why we ensure that our clients have regular access to the resources they need from us.
KIND WORDS
HELPFUL RESOURCES
7 things to consider when buying or selling a business
What is the difference between a Warranty and an Indemnity?
4 different types of business exit strategies
What to consider when selling your business
Mergers & acquisitions - the strategy for success
Are you thinking of selling your business?
Building a business with an exit strategy
Buying share capital vs buying assets
What happens when overseas parties acquire a UK business?
Due diligence in the 21st Century: The value of Social Media
An introduction to management buy outs
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