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ProfessionalsWilliam Aitken-Davies

William Aitken-Davies
Partner

Tel: +44-20-7367-1611
Fax: +44-20-3725-2562
waitken-davies@paulweiss.com

+44-20-7367-1611
London

20 Air Street
London, United Kingdom W1B 5AN
Fax: +44-20-3725-2562

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A partner in the Private Equity M&A Group and head of European M&A, Will Aitken-Davies advises private equity and financial sponsor clients on the most complex cross-border transactions, including public M&A, buyouts, carve-outs, co-investments, consortium deals and distressed acquisitions.

Described by clients quoted in Chambers as “very commercial” lawyer who understands his clients, Will is recommended as a leading private equity lawyer by Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR1000. His transactions have spanned a wide range of industries, including the automotive, energy, technology, infrastructure and transportation sectors.

EXPERIENCE

Will’s notable representations have included:

  • KPS Capital Partners on its:
    • approximately €1.7 billion carve-out acquisition of INEOS Composites, a global manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins, from INEOS Enterprises
    • carve-out acquisition, via a newly formed affiliate, of Innomotics GmbH from technology company Siemens AG for an enterprise value of €3.5 billion
  • General Atlantic in various transactions including:
    • as a lead investor in a $365 million strategic growth investment in Hostaway, an all-in-one vacation rental software and management system
    • its co-investment with Bridgepoint in Kyriba, which values the company at over $3 billion
    • its participation in the public tender offer for Esker S.A. (France)
  • The Ardonagh Group and its shareholders, Madison Dearborn Partners and HPS Investment Partners, in the investment by funds managed by Stone Point Capital, valuing Ardonagh at $14 billion
  • Westbury Street Holdings (WSH), a portfolio company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, in its acquisition of independent contract catering company The Genuine Dining Co. from existing shareholders
  • I Squared Capital and TDR Capital in their €1.26 billion takeover offer for Applus Services S.A., a Spanish industrial testing company
  • TDR Capital and its portfolio companies in various transactions including:
    • its majority investment in CorpAcq, a UK-based business acquisition compounder that specializes in investments in small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK
    • the acquisition of Acqua & Sapone from H.I.G. Capital and the founding Barbarossa family
    • the €4.3 billion disposal of Modulaire to Brookfield
    • the £1.9 billion recommended cash offer for Constellation Automotive (formerly known as BCA Marketplace plc), owner of We Buy Any Car
    • the cash offer for Marshall Motors Holdings plc and the acquisition of CarNext B.V., a leading B2B and B2C digital used car sales marketplace
    • its entry into the exclusive master franchise and development agreement for Popeyes France
    • its investment into Popeyes UK
    • its investment into EG and subsequent merger with EFR
    • the NOK 2.94 billion recommended cash offer for Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal ferry service and expedition cruise provider
    • the acquisition of David Lloyd Leisure and the subsequent add-ons of 16 Virgin Active clubs in the UK and Meridian Spa & Fitness in Germany
    • the acquisition and disposition of the Lowell Group, a UK market leader in the acquisition of non-performing consumer debt portfolios
    • the carve-out acquisition of Stonegate Pub Company and multiple add-on acquisitions
  • A consortium comprising ADIA, ATP, GIC, Goldman Sachs, PGGM and TDR Capital in the €3.7 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based LeasePlan from Volkswagen and subsequent cross-border merger with ALD Automotive
  • Hillhouse Investment in the $3.7 billion carve-out acquisition of the Philips Domestic Appliances business
  • I Squared Capital and its portfolio companies in various transactions including:
    • the acquisition of Aqua Comms, an Ireland-based specialist operator of transatlantic and intra-European subsea infrastructure
    • the $2.15 billion carve-out acquisition of GTT’s digital infrastructure division (now known as EXA Infrastructure)
    • the acquisition of a 45% stake in Rubis Terminal B.V. from Rubis, valuing the business at €1 billion
    • the acquisition of TIP Trailer Services, a leading pan-European and Canadian trailer leasing and services company
    • the acquisition and disposition of Grupo T-Solar, a 274 MW solar power generation platform with assets across Spain and Italy
    • the €1.15 billion acquisition of the Domidep Group, a European nursing home operator
    • the set-up of and investment into Conrad Energy, an independent UK power producer focused on storage, flexible generation and grid stability
  • Brookfield and its portfolio company Modulaire on the carve-out acquisition of Mobile Mini UK from WillScot
  • Hg in the acquisition of ITM8, a leading Danish provider of IT services to private and public industries
  • Hg, Bain Capital and ICG in the €1.2 billion disposal of TeamSystem Group to Hellman & Friedman
  • Hg and CombeII Group in the acquisition of TranslP group
  • Terra Firma and DWS in the €3.5 billion disposal of Tank & Rast to a consortium of financial investors
  • Brait in the £1.9 billion acquisition of New Look from Permira and Apax

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