Robbie McLaren

Latham & Watkins has advised Canva on its acquisition of Serif Group Limited, the parent company behind Affinity. Affinity is an award-winning creative software suite for professional photo editing, graphic design, and page layout with more than 3 million users. The acquisition significantly bolsters Canva’s vision to build the world’s most comprehensive suite of visual communication tools. The Latham team was led by London corporate partner Robbie McLaren, with associates Medha Marathe, Emil George, and Beatrice Leung. Advice on US corporate matters was provided by Bay Area partner Michael Podolny; on tax matters by London partner Helen Lethaby, with associate Sam Duncan; on employment and benefits matters by London partner Sarah Gadd, with associate Anna Cloke; on data and technology matters by London partners Gail Crawford and Christian McDermott, with associates Ben Leigh, Nara Yoo, and Avinash Balendran; on real estate matters by associate Danni Davies; and on foreign direct investment matters by associate Nadeem Brora.~~

Mar 27

1 min

System1, Inc. (NYSE: SST), an omnichannel customer acquisition marketing platform, has announced the sale of Total Security Limited to a group led by Just Develop It Limited (the Transaction). The Transaction allows System1 to focus on its core advertising business and positions the Company for accelerated growth powered by its industry-leading Responsive Acquisition Marketing Platform (RAMP). The Transaction also enhances the Company’s financial profile and leverage position, while providing greater financial flexibility to fuel its future growth. Latham & Watkins advised System1 in the transaction with a US corporate deal team led by Los Angeles partners Andrew Clark and Alex Voxman, with associates Brianna Dollinger, Mark Goshgarian, and Drew O’Sullivan and a UK corporate deal team led by London partner Emily Cridland and Robbie McLaren, with associates Lachlan Ferguson and Manon Cote.~~

Dec 5

1 min

Latham & Watkins has advised Norsk Hydro ASA (“Hydro”) on its agreement with Glencore, who will acquire 30 percent of Brazilian alumina refinery Hydro Alunorte, the world's largest alumina refinery, and Hydro’s 5 percent ownership in the Brazilian bauxite producer Mineracão Rio do Norte (MRN). Glencore will acquire an additional 40 percent stake in MRN which is currently owned by Vale. This 40 percent interest will be acquired by Hydro from Vale and sold to Glencore on a back-to-back basis. Following the transactions, Hydro will no longer have an ownership position in MRN and Glencore will continue to supply approximately 30 percent of Alunorte’s long-term bauxite requirements from MRN. The agreement will enable development of Hydro Alunorte by allocating capital to sustain and improve operations, continuing efforts to strengthen the refinery’s first quartile cost and carbon position as well as increasing community engagement. The transactions will have a total net enterprise value of US$1.11 billion, which will be adjusted for Hydro Alunorte’s net debt as of June 30, 2023. Net debt for 30 percent of Hydro Alunorte as of March 31, 2023, was US$335 million. The enterprise value and net debt exclude asset retirement obligations of US$40 million on a 30 percent basis. Subject to Hydro Alunorte’s performance, Hydro may make certain repayments to Glencore which are capped at US$55 million. Latham previously advised Hydro on the acquisition of Alunorte in 2010. The Latham team was led by London corporate partners Robbie McLaren and Nick Cline, with associates Medha Marathe, Pierre-Axel Aberg, and Michael Houlder. Advice was also provided on project finance matters by London/Dubai partner Craig Nethercott, with associates Vanessa McLellan and Daniel Chen; on tax matters by London partner Helen Lethaby and counsel James Leslie; and on Brazilian law matters by local counsel Veirano Advogados.~~

Apr 27

1 min

Latham & Watkins was honored with five awards at the LMG Life Sciences Awards EMEA 2023. Regarded as one of the industry’s leading programs, the prestigious annual awards recognize leading law firms and lawyers from across the region to celebrate their success in the life sciences industry. The firm earned recognition in five key categories for the third consecutive year, including: Belgium Firm of the Year M&A Lawyer of the Year: Robbie McLaren, London partner and Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group Regulatory Advisor of the Year: Eveline Van Keymeulen, Brussels and Paris partner and Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice Impact Deal: Quidel’s US$6 billion acquisition of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Impact Deal: Astorg’s acquisition of CordenPharma LMG Life Sciences also shortlisted Latham in other categories, including Antitrust & Competition Firm of the Year, Regulatory Firm of the Year, France Firm of the Year, Italy Firm of the Year, and Germany Firm of the Year. Paris associate Jeanne Fabre was also commended as a finalist for the Regulatory Rising Star category.~~

Jul 14

1 min

Latham & Watkins has advised Abcam plc (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, on a definitive agreement pursuant to which Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Abcam for US$24 per share in cash (the ‘Transaction’), with a total enterprise value of approximately US$5.7 billion including assumed indebtedness and net of acquired cash. The Transaction has been unanimously approved and recommended by the Abcam Board of Directors and unanimously approved by the Danaher Board of Directors. Latham has previously advised Abcam on its listing on NASDAQ, de-listing from AIM, strategic M&A activities, and a recent activist campaign. The Latham team was led by London corporate partners Robbie McLaren, Richard Butterwick, Anna Ngo, and Jennifer Gascoyne, with associates Chris Ramsey, Aimee Godfrey, Aeneas Nalbantis, and Will Temple-Smith. Advice on US corporate matters was provided by Orange County partner Scott Shean and New York partner Leah Sauter; on executive compensation, employment & benefits matters by London partner Sarah Gadd and Washington, D.C. partner Nikhil Kumar; and on antitrust and regulatory matters by Brussels partner Héctor Armengod and counsel Philipp Studt, and Washington, D.C. partner Mandy Reeves.~~

Aug 28

1 min