Key contact
Ragavan Arunachalam
Partner
Business /
Mergers & Acquisitions
Specialist legal advice through a business acquisition or disposal
Acquiring or selling a business can be a great way for organisations to grow and transform, but it can also be complex and risky. There are many legal, financial and operational factors to consider which are not always obvious. Our expert mergers and acquisitions team can guide you smoothly through the transaction, allowing you to exploit the synergies that should become available from the joining of two companies.
The Team
Our lawyers have the expertise and experience to provide you with creative, personalised solutions in a clear and understandable way.
Our Publications
Discover a wealth of invaluable guidance in the form of guides and brochures written by our expert lawyers.
Our insights
Discover the latest insights and thought leadership from our team of legal experts.
View profileAbout
Our mergers and acquisitions experience
Our dedicated mergers and acquisitions lawyers advise public and private companies, institutional investors, private individuals and management teams, as well as foreign corporates and multinationals that are looking to acquire or dispose of businesses in the UK. Our expertise includes:
- Share acquisitions and disposals
- Asset acquisitions and disposals
- Management buy-outs and buy-ins
- Joint ventures and collaboration agreements
- Group restructurings
- Cross border transactions
- Funding for M&A
How our specialist corporate M&A solicitors can help
Working with a specialist team makes a real difference to the success of an M&A deal. Our UK corporate lawyers have years of experience advising on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, in the UK and overseas. We can help you:
- Check the health of the business pre-sale
- Understand the key issues involved in your transaction
- Identify and manage the risks
- Structure the deal for tax efficiency
- Obtain regulatory approvals where required
- Conduct genuinely focused due diligence
- Negotiate and complete the deal
- Integrate the business post-completion
M&A transactions are, by their nature, complex. As a full-service law firm, we have specialists in all the areas that an M&A transaction might require including competition, regulatory, employment, pensions, share schemes, real estate, environmental, intellectual property, data protection and corporate governance. Our corporate team ensures that all advice is coordinated and everyone is pulling out the stops to make your deal happen within your timetable and your budget.
Nigel BrahamsPartner - Head of Financial Services
+44 20 7470 4434+44 7958 466786nigel.brahams@collyerbristow.com
Sharon FryerPartner - Head of Commercial Services
+44 20 7470 4409+44 7796 712885sharon.fryer@collyerbristow.com
Mergers & Acquisitions work highlights
Acquisition of a company
Acted for the shareholder of Specific Environments Limited, an expert in cleanroom engineering, on their acquisition by Angstrom Technology.
Led by:
Acquisition of a company
Advising a private equity-backed EU producer of premium pet food in respect of the acquisition of an English company. The deal was structured to complete in stages, so involved the production of a detailed shareholders’ agreement and call options to acquire the further tranches over time.
Led by:
Acquisitions for a multinational conglomerate
Advising a Singaporean multinational conglomerate on its UK acquisitions, including taking minority and majority stakes in their target entities.
Led by:
Acted for a party in a high value partnership dispute
We acted for a party in a high value partnership dispute which was resolved without recourse to the courts.
Led by:
Advising a complex M&A deal involving the purchase of a ship building company
We acted for a consortium of domestic & international family office investors in relation to a complex private equity backed M&A buy-side mandate which involved the purchase of a ship building company. We advised the buyer on all aspects of the transaction; from initial due diligence to a successful completion of the onward sale, where all parties walked away satisfied with the outcome.
Led by:
Advising a family office on FCA regulatory requirements
We advised a family office on the FCA regulatory requirements of operating a multi-family office, as well as advising them on SAFEs under which they were investing in two early-stage companies.
Led by:
Advising a leading higher education provider
We advised a leading higher education provider on the Higher Education Act.
Led by:
Advising on a project to issue music NFTs
We advised Goldreel on their project to issue NFTs representing new music.
Led by:
Advising on sale of translation tech business
We advised on the sale of Language Connect, a translation technology business, to one of the largest UK-based e-commerce organisations.
Led by:
Advising on sale of translation tech business to Japanese conglomerate
We advised on the sale of GlobaLexicon, a translation technology business to a Japanese conglomerate.
Led by:
Advising on the purchase of a leading automotive manufacturer
We acted on the acquisition, backed by investment from a family office, in respect of the purchase of a leading manufacturer of dual-control systems for cars. We also advised on the equity financing of the special purpose vehicle, and the debt financing of the deal.
Led by:
Advising the funding for cross-channel information platform
We advised on the ‘Series A’ funding of a company operating a cross-channel platform for secure authentication and information exchange for the banking, government, healthcare, e-commerce sectors.
Led by:
Advising the investment of a venture capital fund
We advised on the investment into a digital identity company by a venture capital fund.
Led by:
Buy and build acquisitions
We acted for a private equity-backed French company in its buy and build acquisitions of multiple UK childcare facilities and the integration of those acquisitions into their group.
Led by:
Company law training
We deliver company law training to in-house legal teams and training for directors on their statutory and fiduciary duties.
Led by:
Debt and equity investment
We advised a “clean energy” company on the debt and equity investment by a large fund group, and on the subsequent exit by that investor and the introduction of replacement debt and equity financing.
Led by:
Providing advice on the Senior Managers Regime
We advised several individuals on issues relating to the Senior Managers Regime and also on personal regulatory issues.
Led by:
Providing ICO corporate and regulatory advice
We advised a leading provider of regulatory services in the crypto space on a range of corporate and regulatory matters, including the regulatory impact of selling initial coin offerings (ICOs) into the UK market, various block trades in crypto currencies, and assorted corporate structure matters, including debt, ICO and equity financing.
Led by:
Supporting a social network’s acquisition process
We advised Tokenise Stock Exchange on its acquisition by social network, Vero.
Led by:
Supporting the investment into a leading AML provider
We advised on the investment into a leading AML provider in the crypto space by a venture capital fund.
Led by:
Spotlight
Islamic finance
Our financial services team has experience in drafting and negotiating master purchase and sale agreements for Islamic finance products, including commodity based Murabaha trades and Sukuk bonds, negotiating with a number of Middle Eastern Banks in the process.
On the disputes side, we have been instructed by a number of state-owned Middle Eastern banks over the years on various financial and commercial dispute matters. As such we are aware and very familiar with the business and other cultural issues involved in acting both for and against clients in the Arab world.
Quick glance: publications
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Classes
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Getting a Business Ready for Sale
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Buybacks
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Heads of Terms
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholder Rights
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share v. Asset Sales
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholders’ Agreements: the Basics
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Selling a Business
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Buying a Business
- Private equity/post M&A disputes
- CB Checkpoint: overview
- İŞLETMELER İÇİN HİZMETLERİDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK - İDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK
- Mergers & Acquisitions: an overview of our expertise
- Services for businesses
- Doing business in the UK
- key considerations when establishing business funding
- Pre-investment checklist
Mergers & Acquisitions Publications
Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Classes
Creating new share classes can be a useful way of attracting new participants, allowing a company to offer shares that are particularly focussed towards their desired investors. Whether you are considering re-organising the ownership of your business or are keen to understand the most suitable structure for a planned investment, this guide can help you with some common questions in relation to share classes.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Getting a Business Ready for Sale
Prior to approaching the market or agreeing terms with a prospective buyer, undertaking adequate preparations for sale can contribute to a smoother transaction for all parties. In this guide, we look at some key questions to consider in respect of the readiness of a business for a potential sale.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Buybacks
Put simply, a share buyback is where a company purchases its own shares from an existing shareholder. In this guide, we will look at some key aspects of share buybacks in relation to private limited companies incorporated in England & Wales.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Heads of Terms
In this guide we will look at heads of terms as they relate to the sale of a business or assets in England & Wales. Whether identified as “heads of terms”, a “letter of intent” or “heads of agreement”, these documents summarise the key terms of a proposed transaction.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholder Rights
Whether you are a minority shareholder concerned about what influence you can exert over a company’s affairs, or a founding shareholder, considering the amount of equity you would be prepared to sell to investors without losing control – this guide is here to help you understand what shareholders can do and when.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Share v. Asset Sales
Share and asset purchases are the two methods of acquiring a business in the UK.
Do you know their differences? The business of a sole trader or unregistered partnership can only be acquired through an asset purchase as there is no owning entity for the assets which can be acquired, while a share purchase can be used for the acquisition of all or part of the shares in a company which owns and operates a business.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholders’ Agreements: the Basics
Did you know that a shareholders’ agreement is a written agreement, between the shareholders of a company, as to the relationship between them and how the company should be managed. By including the company as a party, the shareholders can ensure that it is both bound by and able to enforce the terms of the agreement against contravening shareholders.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Selling a Business
We look at the flip side of price structuring, instead focusing on how a seller could secure elements of the purchase price that are delayed – or at least obtain comfort around the buyer’s ability to pay them.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Corporate Know-How Guides: Buying a Business
When making an offer for a business, the question of when the consideration will be paid can often be just as important as how much will be paid. We look at four of the most common options available to prospective buyers (beyond upfront cash payments) and the risks/rewards posed by them.
Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.
Private equity/post M&A disputes
Often involving complex, cross-border issues, our team has a great deal of experience in resolving the full range of post-M&A disputes.
CB Checkpoint: overview
There are a number of key policies, procedures and documents your business should keep up to date, to be both legally protected and in preparation for investment or exit. Our team will give your business a full check-over.
İŞLETMELER İÇİN HİZMETLERİDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK - İDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK
Turkish Language | An overview of our services supporting ambitious, often owner managed businesses, investors and entrepreneurs in building, operating and scaling enterprises from early stage right through to exit.
Mergers & Acquisitions: an overview of our expertise
An overview of the expertise of our Corporate team in relation to mergers and acquisitions, where we act for experienced private equity backed buyers as well more novice sellers who need careful guidance through this potentially daunting legal maze.
Services for businesses
An overview of our services supporting ambitious mid-sized businesses, investors and successful entrepreneurs in building, operating and scaling enterprises.
Doing business in the UK
Whether you are looking to set up a new business here or expand an existing one, this guide covers the key things you need to know to avoid potential pitfalls and get the most out of your investment.
key considerations when establishing business funding
Are you considering new funding for your business? Our handy flowchart highlights key questions to ask yourself and key points to document to ensure your business is protected.
Pre-investment checklist
An investor will want a range of financial, commercial and legal information about your business, before deciding how much to invest, and on what terms. This checklist helps you prepare for the legal part of that process.
Mergers & Acquisitions insights
Podcasts
Cracking the Code on Directors’ Service AgreementsCracking the Code on Directors’ Service Agreements
Listen now
Shorter Reads
‘Promoting the integrity of the register’: The new Companies House approach to non-compliance‘Promoting the integrity of the register’: The new Companies House approach to non-compliance
Read more
Shorter Reads
Are you a member?Are you a member?
Read more
Longer Reads
Piggy Banks to Portfolios: can children hold shares in a company?Piggy Banks to Portfolios: can children hold shares in a company?
Read more
Podcasts
Good leaver or bad leaver?Good leaver or bad leaver?
Listen now
Shorter Reads
Changes to Companies House fees from 1 May 2024Changes to Companies House fees from 1 May 2024
Read more
News
Collyer Bristow advises Strive Gaming in investment roundCollyer Bristow advises Strive Gaming in investment round
Read more
News
Collyer Bristow advises Grandir UK on acquisition of Berkshire-based Nursery and PreschoolCollyer Bristow advises Grandir UK on acquisition of Berkshire-based Nursery and Preschool
Read more
Shorter Reads
Changes to Companies House requirementsChanges to Companies House requirements
Read more
Shorter Reads
Companies house filing fraud?Companies house filing fraud?
Read more
Longer Reads
Welcoming a new player – what investment means for your gaming businessWelcoming a new player – what investment means for your gaming business
Read more
Podcasts
Conflicts of interestConflicts of interest
Listen now
You might also like
Back
Need some more information? Make an enquiry below
Mergers & Acquisitions key contacts
- ragavan.arunachalam@collyerbristow.comRagavan
ArunachalamPartner
Talk to Ragavan about Corporate, Commercial, Corporate recovery, restructuring & insolvency, Manufacturing and Private equity
Mergers & Acquisitions
Mergers & Acquisitions
Specialist legal advice through a business acquisition or disposal
Acquiring or selling a business can be a great way for organisations to grow and transform, but it can also be complex and risky. There are many legal, financial and operational factors to consider which are not always obvious. Our expert mergers and acquisitions team can guide you smoothly through the transaction, allowing you to exploit the synergies that should become available from the joining of two companies.
Key contact
Ragavan Arunachalam
Partner
The Team
Our lawyers have the expertise and experience to provide you with creative, personalised solutions in a clear and understandable way.
Our Publications
Discover a wealth of invaluable guidance in the form of guides and brochures written by our expert lawyers.
Our insights
Discover the latest insights and thought leadership from our team of legal experts.
Our mergers and acquisitions experience
Our dedicated mergers and acquisitions lawyers advise public and private companies, institutional investors, private individuals and management teams, as well as foreign corporates and multinationals that are looking to acquire or dispose of businesses in the UK. Our expertise includes:
- Share acquisitions and disposals
- Asset acquisitions and disposals
- Management buy-outs and buy-ins
- Joint ventures and collaboration agreements
- Group restructurings
- Cross border transactions
- Funding for M&A
How our specialist corporate M&A solicitors can help
Working with a specialist team makes a real difference to the success of an M&A deal. Our UK corporate lawyers have years of experience advising on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, in the UK and overseas. We can help you:
- Check the health of the business pre-sale
- Understand the key issues involved in your transaction
- Identify and manage the risks
- Structure the deal for tax efficiency
- Obtain regulatory approvals where required
- Conduct genuinely focused due diligence
- Negotiate and complete the deal
- Integrate the business post-completion
M&A transactions are, by their nature, complex. As a full-service law firm, we have specialists in all the areas that an M&A transaction might require including competition, regulatory, employment, pensions, share schemes, real estate, environmental, intellectual property, data protection and corporate governance. Our corporate team ensures that all advice is coordinated and everyone is pulling out the stops to make your deal happen within your timetable and your budget.
Ragavan ArunachalamPartner
View Ragavan Arunachalam's profileFlora NivenAssociate
View Flora Niven's profileHelen IngramSenior Associate
View Helen Ingram's profileLuke NaylorAssociate
View Luke Naylor's profileNigel BrahamsPartner - Head of Financial Services
View Nigel Brahams's profilePaul SillisConsultant
View Paul Sillis's profileRobert WatsonSenior Associate
View Robert Watson's profileSharon FryerPartner - Head of Commercial Services
View Sharon Fryer's profileValentina FalichevaAssociate
View Valentina Falicheva's profileZoe WatlingParalegal
View Zoe Watling's profileMergers & Acquisitions work highlights
Acquisition of a company
Acted for the shareholder of Specific Environments Limited, an expert in cleanroom engineering, on their acquisition by Angstrom Technology.
Led by:
Acquisition of a company
Advising a private equity-backed EU producer of premium pet food in respect of the acquisition of an English company. The deal was structured to complete in stages, so involved the production of a detailed shareholders’ agreement and call options to acquire the further tranches over time.
Led by:
Acquisitions for a multinational conglomerate
Advising a Singaporean multinational conglomerate on its UK acquisitions, including taking minority and majority stakes in their target entities.
Led by:
Acted for a party in a high value partnership dispute
We acted for a party in a high value partnership dispute which was resolved without recourse to the courts.
Led by:
Advising a complex M&A deal involving the purchase of a ship building company
We acted for a consortium of domestic & international family office investors in relation to a complex private equity backed M&A buy-side mandate which involved the purchase of a ship building company. We advised the buyer on all aspects of the transaction; from initial due diligence to a successful completion of the onward sale, where all parties walked away satisfied with the outcome.
Led by:
Advising a family office on FCA regulatory requirements
We advised a family office on the FCA regulatory requirements of operating a multi-family office, as well as advising them on SAFEs under which they were investing in two early-stage companies.
Led by:
Advising a leading higher education provider
We advised a leading higher education provider on the Higher Education Act.
Led by:
Advising on a project to issue music NFTs
We advised Goldreel on their project to issue NFTs representing new music.
Led by:
Advising on sale of translation tech business
We advised on the sale of Language Connect, a translation technology business, to one of the largest UK-based e-commerce organisations.
Led by:
Advising on sale of translation tech business to Japanese conglomerate
We advised on the sale of GlobaLexicon, a translation technology business to a Japanese conglomerate.
Led by:
Advising on the purchase of a leading automotive manufacturer
We acted on the acquisition, backed by investment from a family office, in respect of the purchase of a leading manufacturer of dual-control systems for cars. We also advised on the equity financing of the special purpose vehicle, and the debt financing of the deal.
Led by:
Advising the funding for cross-channel information platform
We advised on the ‘Series A’ funding of a company operating a cross-channel platform for secure authentication and information exchange for the banking, government, healthcare, e-commerce sectors.
Led by:
Advising the investment of a venture capital fund
We advised on the investment into a digital identity company by a venture capital fund.
Led by:
Buy and build acquisitions
We acted for a private equity-backed French company in its buy and build acquisitions of multiple UK childcare facilities and the integration of those acquisitions into their group.
Led by:
Company law training
We deliver company law training to in-house legal teams and training for directors on their statutory and fiduciary duties.
Led by:
Debt and equity investment
We advised a “clean energy” company on the debt and equity investment by a large fund group, and on the subsequent exit by that investor and the introduction of replacement debt and equity financing.
Led by:
Providing advice on the Senior Managers Regime
We advised several individuals on issues relating to the Senior Managers Regime and also on personal regulatory issues.
Led by:
Providing ICO corporate and regulatory advice
We advised a leading provider of regulatory services in the crypto space on a range of corporate and regulatory matters, including the regulatory impact of selling initial coin offerings (ICOs) into the UK market, various block trades in crypto currencies, and assorted corporate structure matters, including debt, ICO and equity financing.
Led by:
Supporting a social network’s acquisition process
We advised Tokenise Stock Exchange on its acquisition by social network, Vero.
Led by:
Supporting the investment into a leading AML provider
We advised on the investment into a leading AML provider in the crypto space by a venture capital fund.
Led by:
SPOTLIGHT
Islamic financeopen
Our financial services team has experience in drafting and negotiating master purchase and sale agreements for Islamic finance products, including commodity based Murabaha trades and Sukuk bonds, negotiating with a number of Middle Eastern Banks in the process.
On the disputes side, we have been instructed by a number of state-owned Middle Eastern banks over the years on various financial and commercial dispute matters. As such we are aware and very familiar with the business and other cultural issues involved in acting both for and against clients in the Arab world.
Mergers & Acquisitions Publications
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Classes
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Getting a Business Ready for Sale
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Buybacks
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Heads of Terms
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholder Rights
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Share v. Asset Sales
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholders’ Agreements: the Basics
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Selling a Business
- Corporate Know-How Guides: Buying a Business
- Private equity/post M&A disputes
- CB Checkpoint: overview
- İŞLETMELER İÇİN HİZMETLERİDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK - İDDİALI İŞLETMELER İÇİN STRATEJİK DESTEK
- Mergers & Acquisitions: an overview of our expertise
- Services for businesses
- Doing business in the UK
- key considerations when establishing business funding
- Pre-investment checklist
Mergers & Acquisitions insights
Podcasts
Cracking the Code on Directors’ Service AgreementsCracking the Code on Directors’ Service Agreements
Listen now
Shorter Reads
‘Promoting the integrity of the register’: The new Companies House approach to non-compliance‘Promoting the integrity of the register’: The new Companies House approach to non-compliance
Read more
Shorter Reads
Are you a member?Are you a member?
Read more
Longer Reads
Piggy Banks to Portfolios: can children hold shares in a company?Piggy Banks to Portfolios: can children hold shares in a company?
Read more
Podcasts
Good leaver or bad leaver?Good leaver or bad leaver?
Listen now
Shorter Reads
Changes to Companies House fees from 1 May 2024Changes to Companies House fees from 1 May 2024
Read more
News
Collyer Bristow advises Strive Gaming in investment roundCollyer Bristow advises Strive Gaming in investment round
Read more
News
Collyer Bristow advises Grandir UK on acquisition of Berkshire-based Nursery and PreschoolCollyer Bristow advises Grandir UK on acquisition of Berkshire-based Nursery and Preschool
Read more
Shorter Reads
Changes to Companies House requirementsChanges to Companies House requirements
Read more
Shorter Reads
Companies house filing fraud?Companies house filing fraud?
Read more
Longer Reads
Welcoming a new player – what investment means for your gaming businessWelcoming a new player – what investment means for your gaming business
Read more
Podcasts
Conflicts of interestConflicts of interest
Listen now
Need some more information? Make an enquiry below.
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