AshurstsAshurst Morris Crisp’s market leading buy-out practice has scored its first major instruction of the year from key client Cinven, advising the private equity house on the £2bn acquisition of Nomura’s Unique and Voyager UK pub estates.

The deal, one of the largest buy-outs ever in the UK, saw Cinven leading a consortium acquiring two of Nomura’s pub estates, along with Princes Gate Investors and Legal & General Ventures, which will invest £372m for an 83.2% stake.