Rhys Evans

A cross-practice team from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ('Freshfields') has advised Flutter Entertainment plc ('Flutter') on its additional listing of ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), which commenced on 29 January 2024. Flutter is the world’s largest online sports betting and iGaming operator based on revenue, operating some of the world’s most distinctive online sports betting and iGaming brands such as FanDuel, Sky Betting & Gaming, Sportsbet, PokerStars, Paddy Power, Sisal, tombola, Betfair, TVG, Junglee Games and Adjarabet. It is expected that the additional listing will enable increased share ownership by investors in the United States, Flutter's largest market. Freshfields has a strong track record of advising on these complex cross-border additional listing processes, with the same team having advised Ferguson plc and Indivior PLC on their additional listings on NYSE and NASDAQ, respectively. The Freshfields team was led by partners Oliver Lazenby, Rhys Evans and Ziyad Nassif, and associates Rob Foley and Marton Mohacsi. Partners David Mendel and Lori Goodman and senior associates Regina Erie, Jeffrey Anand and Andrew Herman advised on employment matters. Partner Peter Clements and associate Matthew Everett advised on tax matters.

Jan 29

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) is advising Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. (C) (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on the successful reorganisation of McLaren Group Limited (McLaren). McLaren is a global leader in luxury automotive and elite motorsports with a focus on its automotive supercar and racing businesses. The McLaren group is formed of McLaren Automotive, which hand-builds lightweight supercars; and a majority stake in McLaren Racing which competes in the Formula 1 World Championship, NTT IndyCar Series in the US, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E and E-Sports. With a reputation for innovation and technological excellence, McLaren is one of the UK’s largest independent companies and is globally headquartered at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. The reorganisation marks a significant milestone in Mumtalakat’s investment in McLaren and represents a major step in the ongoing business transformation of the McLaren group. As a result of the reorganisation, McLaren will benefit from a simplified ownership and governance structure, allowing it to focus on its long-term business plan whilst continuing to explore potential technical collaboration with industry partners. The Freshfields team was led by partners Pervez Akhtar, Richard Tett and Rhys Evans, as well as senior associate Caroline Platt and associates Toby Halford, Jack Robb and Frederick Money.

Mar 28

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields has acted as lead adviser to Liberty Global Ltd (“LG”) on the entry into definitive agreements with Vodafone Group Plc to acquire Vodafone’s 50% shareholding in the Dutch telecommunication joint venture, VodafoneZiggo. Under the terms of the agreements, Vodafone will receive € 1 bn in cash and a 10% shareholding in Ziggo Group, a new Benelux company that will hold LG’s interests in VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands and Telenet in Belgium and Luxembourg. The transaction will enable LG to fully unlock the value of its Benelux operating businesses for shareholders, supported by plans to list Ziggo Group in 2027 on Euronext in Amsterdam by spin off the 90% held by Liberty Global to its shareholders. The multijurisdictional cross-practice team was led by Partners Hanneke Rothbarth (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam) and Deborah Janssens (Corporate/M&A, Brussels), Counsel Marius Weyers (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam), Principal Associate Joachim De Vos (Corporate/M&A, Brussels), and Associates Anne Zwolsman (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam) and Sarah Wauthion (Corporate/M&A, Brussels). Tax advice was provided by Partner Bob Van Kasteren and Senior Associate Daan Van Schaik (both Amsterdam). The wider Freshfields team included Partners Alvaro Pliego Selie (Amsterdam), Sacha Schubert (Brussels), Tone Oeyen (Brussels), Principal Associate Björn Sijtsma (Brussels) and Associates Henri Putman (Brussels) and Veerle Peters (Amsterdam) for antitrust and regulatory advice. Partners Brechje Nollen (Amsterdam) and Satya Staes Polet (Brussels), and Associate Lotte Somers (Amsterdam) advised on the employment aspects. For commercial advice, Partner David Brooks (London), Counsel Tom Dye (London) and Associate Hannah Family (London). And for other corporate advice Partner Rhys Evans (London), Associates Riet Devriendt (Brussels) and Emma O’Keeffe (London).

Feb 20

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields is advising longstanding Freshfields client Mercuria Energy Group (Mercuria), one of the largest independent energy and commodity groups in the world, on its entry into a joint venture with Tata International Limited (the global trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group), to expand its global trading businesses across multiple commodities. The joint venture will enable trade of a diversified basket of commodities in international markets and is expected to support the development of Mercuria’s trading activities in India and internationally. The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction is being led by partner Rhys Evans and counsel Piusha Bose.

Feb 24

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) advises long-standing client NYSE-listed GXO Logistics, Inc. (GXO) on its all-cash recommended public takeover offer for the entire issued share capital of Wincanton plc, which is proposed to be implemented by way of a UK scheme of arrangement following a competitive process. The offer was originally made on a unilateral basis which was subsequently recommended by the board. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-Q2 2024 and is conditional on the receipt of regulatory clearances and the requisite approval of the Wincanton shareholders. GXO is the largest pure-play contract logistics provider in the world and an innovator in the logistics industry, and is now independently listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of US$6.2 billion. Wincanton plc is a leading British supply chain solutions company and provides business critical services including storage, handling and distribution; high volume eFulfilment; retailer ‘dark stores’; two-person home delivery; fleet and transport management; and network optimisation for many of the UK’s best-known companies. It is listed on the premium segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The Freshfields team was led by partners Rhys Evans and Piers Prichard Jones and supported by partner Sebastian Fain.

Mar 8

1 min