Linklaters projects partner Clive Ransome advised Australian investment bank Macquarie Bank on its £426m acquisition of UK water company South East Water, which was owned by SAUR – a subsidiary of France-based Bouygues Groupe. The vendor was advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Tom Head, supported by senior associate Gerallt Jones and corporate associates James Pointin and Edward Cole. This is thought to be the first of a number of such transactions the Australian bank aims to seal in the UK in coming months.
Lovells head of private equity Marco Compagnoni advised Classic Copyright – a special purpose vehicle set up by established client Hg Capital – on its £68m take private of music publishing house Boosey & Hawkes Group. The target was advised by Slaughter and May corporate partner Robert Stern, supported by corporate assistant James Barton. Compagnoni was supported by private equity assistant Jonathon Wood, banking partner Adam Freeman and IP partner Lindy Golding.
