Mark Brewer

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising EQT Growth, part of the purpose-driven global investment organisation, in an EQT Growth-led €235 million Series E funding round in Mambu, a market-leading SaaS banking platform. The funding is the largest financing round to date for a banking software platform. The funding brings the company's valuation to €4.9 billion post money, making it one of the highest-valued B2B SaaS companies founded in Europe. With over 200 customers and over 50 million end users across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, Mambu's Q3 2021 revenues are up 120% compared to Q3 2020. Mambu will use its fresh funding to further accelerate innovation in its next-generation platform, with the ambition of rolling out both new functional as well as technical capabilities. The company will also continue to expand its already-global footprint and customer success model to further support its international customer base which is active across 65 countries today, with specific focus on twelve key markets. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction is led by partner Victoria Sigeti alongside partner Wessel Heukamp, principal associates Saloua Ouchan and Jacob Fontaine, senior associate Mark Brewer and associates Hannah Turton and Anne Zwolsman.

Dec 10

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising international private equity firm Cinven, on its agreement to acquire International Financial Group Limited (‘IFGL’), a leading life insurance provider of cross-border, long-term savings products for internationally mobile clients. IFGL has £19 billion of assets under administration and operates through three principal brands: RL360, Ardan International and Friends Provident International. Financial details of the transaction are not disclosed. IFGL represents the third investment from Cinven’s long-term financial services-focused strategy. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. The Freshfields’ advisory team is led by London-based private equity partners Alastair Brown and Victoria Sigeti, and senior associate Mark Brewer, together with financial institutions regulatory partner James Smethurst and insurance partner George Swan. This latest acquisition carries on Freshfields’ long-standing and successful relationship with Cinven. This transaction marks the first transaction of 2022 on which Freshfields has advised Cinven, having recently advised Cinven on a number of transactions in 2021 including, among others, its investment in Ufinet International, its acquisition of a majority stake in Arcaplanet and Maxi Zoo Italia, its disposal of Chryso and its successful bid, alongside Bain Capital, for Lonza Specialty Ingredients.

Feb 1

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising preeminent global private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (“H&F”) on its sale of a minority stake in TeamSystem, a leading provider of business software solutions in Italy and Spain, to Silver Lake Partners (“Silver Lake”). Following completion of the transaction, H&F will remain the majority shareholder of the TeamSystem group. TeamSystem is a leading provider of accounting, payroll, and business management software for accountants and small and medium-sized enterprises in Italy and Spain. The strategic investment from Silver Lake marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to drive the digital transformation of businesses and their accountants in Italy and Spain. Since the time of H&F’s initial investment in TeamSystem in 2016, the number of customers served by the company has grown from 200,000 to approximately 1.8 million today. Completion of the transaction is expected around the end of the year, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The Freshfields’ team advising H&F is led by Global Transactions partners Tim Wilmot, Mark Brewer and Luigi Verga. Regulatory advice was provided by partner Cyrus Pocha and tax advice by partner Jill Gatehouse. Antitrust advice was provided by partner Ermelinda Spinelli and counsel Enrique Carrera. Freshfields advised H&F on the original acquisition of TeamSystem and this transaction continues Freshfields’ track record of advising H&F in Europe. Further information on the transaction can be found here.

May 24

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity investor, on its investment in Butternut Box, a UK-based fresh dog food company known for its innovative approach to pet food. General Atlantic’s investment was part of Butternut Box’s latest funding round which raised £280m. Existing investor L Catterton also participated in the round. Butternut Box is Europe’s largest fresh dog food brand, feeding dogs in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and most recently Poland following its April 2023 acquisition of PsiBufet, one of the leading fresh dog food companies in Central and Eastern Europe. Since its inception in 2016, Butternut Box has grown rapidly, raising over £100m to date including investments from L Catterton, White Star Capital, Five Seasons Ventures, Passion Capital, Literacy Capital, Claret Capital, and HSBC. The transaction is expected to complete in Q4 2023. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction was led by partners Mark Brewer and Victoria Sigeti, and associates Charles Wakeford and Nick Surgey. They were supported by a cross-border team including partners Paul van den Berg, Jill Gatehouse, Andrea Basham and Joe Soltis.

Sep 7

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (‘CD&R’) and its portfolio company Motor Fuel Group (‘MFG’) on its agreement relating to the proposed acquisition of 337 Morrisons petrol forecourts and more than 400 associated sites across the UK for Ultra-Rapid electric vehicle (‘EV’) charging development. The proposed £2.5bn transaction forms a new strategic partnership between the two companies. As part of the transaction Morrisons will take a minority stake of approximately 20% in MFG, and enter into commercial and supply agreements with MFG, underscoring the long-term nature of the commercial partnership. This level of investment will position MFG as one of the largest and most significant ultra-rapid EV charge point operators in the UK. MFG has already committed to completing its market leading £400m EV roll out by 2030, and through this partnership intends to electrify approximately 800 sites with thousands of Ultra-Rapid chargers across the combined estate in that timeframe. The Freshfields team advising CD&R and its portfolio company MFG is led by private equity partner James Scott and senior associate Chris Yarrow. Private equity partner Mark Brewer and senior associate Jay Swain advised on the equity arrangements, and partner David Brooks and counsel Tom Dye led on the commercial and transitional arrangements. Senior associate Emily Szasz advised on tax aspects.

Jan 31

1 min