William Fry is pleased to have advised on 11 award winning transactions in Finance Dublin’s Deals of the Year 2020. We had the pleasure of working with some fantastic clients on so many of the most significant and innovative Irish financial services transactions of the last 12 months.
Detail of the ‘Deals of the Year’ below.
M&A – Acquisition, Public Markets: Avenue Capital’s Investment in Castlehaven Finance
William Fry Team: Ivor Banim, David Maughan, Lyn Brennan, Jason Hollis and Padraic Mulpeter
“William Fry advised funds connected with Pollen Street Capital on the sale of interests in the Castlehaven Group to funds connected with Avenue Capital having structured and advised in 2015 on the establishment of the underlying property-backed debt issuance programme. As a DCM and M&A hybrid transaction elements of the transaction were unique and complex.
This recognises market leading involvement by William Fry in the development and ultimate realisation for clients such as Pollen Street Capital of these complex structures as part of our Debt Capital Markets practice now led by David Maughan and Matthew Cahill with support from Financial Services Partners Lyn Brennan and Jason Hollis and Corporate and Tax Partners Ivor Banim and Padraic Mulpeter.”
M&A – Domestic FS: AIB & First Data’s Acquisition of Payzone
William Fry Team: Stephen Keogh
“This deal demonstrates the ambition of the traditional Irish pillar banks to enhance their fintech capability and grow revenue via new service lines. William Fry is delighted to be recognised for its contribution in helping such a transformative deal be successfully concluded.”
M&A – Private – Deal of the Year: Fane Valley Co-Operative Society Acquisition of Silver Hill Foods
William Fry Team: Padraic Kinsella, Caitriona McNiff, Lucy McCurry
“The acquisition of Silver Hill Foods, the Monaghan-based duck producer by Northern Irish agri-food group Fane Valley was noteworthy as Silver Hill Foods is a cross-border operation (its main processing plant is at Emyvale in the Republic of Ireland but it also has farms in Northern Ireland), and the transaction occurred at a time when Brexit negotiations were ongoing and uncertain. The acquisition built on an existing relationship between Fane Valley and Silver Hill Foods as Fane Valley has been Silver Hill Foods’ feed nutrition partner for over 20 years. Following the conclusion of the transaction, the current management continued to manage the business and new directors, representing Fane Valley, joined the board.
William Fry is delighted to be recognised in concluding a transaction that was beneficial to all stakeholders in the business.”
M&A – Mid-Market: Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Investment in The City Bin Co
William Fry Team: Stephen Keogh
“This deal demonstrates the opportunity for a rapidly growing Irish business in an evolving market to accelerate expansion by leveraging the capital and expertise of a global private equity fund. William Fry is very pleased to have played a part in helping the parties consummate a mutually beneficial tie-up.
M&A – Acquisition Financing – Deal of the Year: ATA Group Acquisition of Karnasch Professional Tools GmbH
William Fry Team: Jason Hollis, Ciarán Herlihy
Equity Capital Markets Deal of the Year: Uniphar IPO
William Fry Team: Mark Talbot
Debt Capital Markets – Securitisation: Ardagh Group Securitisation, (Ardagh/Trivium ABS Trade Receivables)
William Fry Team: Elaine Hanly, Laura Houlihan
Development Financing: Dublin Port Company
William Fry Team: David Maughan
Loans & Financing – Residential Property: Home for Life Limited Partnership
William Fry Team: Lyn Brennan
Loans & Financing – Innovative Financing: Twenty20 Beef Club
William Fry Team: Siobhan Carlin, Ciarán Herlihy
Financial Services- Insurance Regulatory Capital & Restructuring, (IFS): Ballantyne Re plc Restructuring
William Fry Team: Ruairí Rynn, Niamh Cacciato, Paul Murray, Simona Mulligan and Mark Talbot
The restructuring of Ballantyne Re plc was a landmark in Irish restructuring with the deployment of a scheme of arrangement to implement a complex cross border debt restructuring for the first time. William Fry was is proud to have brought the company successfully through the complex process and ensuring a successful outcome for all of the key stakeholders.
