Alastair Mordaunt

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising CVC Funds (‘CVC’) on its agreement to invest in Odevo, a tech-enabled residential property management company with leading positions in Europe and the US CVC yesterday announced its agreement to join the group of investors led by Swedish firm Fidelio and the existing management team. This deal comes after Odevo has expanded rapidly in recent years. Adding CVC’s experience and global relationships will strengthen the company’s international growth strategy and ongoing drive to innovate its service offering for homeowners. Odevo was founded in Sweden in 2018 by the investment firm Fidelio and the current management team. Through organic growth and joining forces with more than 50 successful entrepreneurs across Europe and USA, Odevo has expanded the business more than 50x, now managing 1.4 million homes with more than 7,000 employees and an annual turnover of €650 million. By welcoming CVC to the group of investors, Odevo takes yet another step on its international growth journey. CVC is investing out of CVC Fund IX, its most recent fund that closed at EUR 26 billion in 2023 and brings substantial experience of investing in leading companies in the Nordics and globally, and closing is expected to take place in Q4 2024 pending regulatory approvals. The Freshfields team advising longstanding client CVC is led by Global Co-Head of Private Capital Charles Hayes, partner Emma Rachmaninov, and associates William Kellett, Chin Wah Lai, Julia Robilliard-Smith and Maya Kotwal. Antitrust advice has been provided by partner Alastair Mordaunt and associates Chi Chung Chan and Alessandra Galea. In addition, a large cross-border team of Freshfields solicitors has provided support on various aspects of the investment. Further information on the agreement can be found here.

Aug 29

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Razer Inc. (‘Razer’), a Hong Kong-listed gaming hardware manufacturer, on the proposed privatisation of Razer by Ouroboros (I) Inc. (the consortium offeror held by co-founders Min-Liang Tan and Lim Kaling alongside CVC Capital Partners) by way of a scheme of arrangement. Upon the scheme of arrangement becoming effective, the consortium offeror will own 100 per cent of Razer. The total offer price is approximately US$1.38bn in cash, to be funded by existing fund facilities available to the consortium offeror and equity commitments from the CVC Funds. The proposed privatisation is subject to approval by shareholders and regulators. Razer Inc. is engaged in the manufacture of laptops, PC peripherals and other products targeted at gamers. The company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (‘HKSE’) in 2017 via an IPO on which Freshfields also advised. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction is led by partners Grace Huang and Edward Freeman, supported by senior associate Cindy Kwong and associates Dickson Chan and Alexa Jiang. Partner Alastair Mordaunt and associate Charles Tay are providing antitrust advice. About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global elite law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on groundbreaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise, and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.

Dec 16

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ('Freshfields') is advising Keppel Corporation Limited ('Keppel') on its agreement with Aermont Capital SCSp to acquire leading European real estate manager, Aermont Capital ('Aermont'). Established in 2007, Aermont is an independent asset management business focused on real estate and real estate-related investment activities in Europe, and in 2023 was ranked by PERE as the highest among Europe-based real estate firms in terms of funds raised in the last five years.  Its assets under management include the world-renowned Pinewood Studios in the UK. Keppel is a global asset manager and operator with strong expertise in sustainability-related solutions spanning the areas of infrastructure, real estate and connectivity. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Keppel operates in more than 20 countries worldwide and has more than S$65 billion of assets under management. The transaction will take place in two phases, with Keppel initially acquiring a 50% stake in H1 2024 (subject to identified regulatory and other approvals) and the full acquisition expected in 2028, with consideration expected be funded through a combination of cash and Keppel shares. The Freshfields team is being led from London by Richard Johnson, together with Alastair Mordaunt on antitrust matters; James Smethurst on financial services regulatory matters; Keith Chapman on funds matters; Jill Gatehouse and Emily Szasz on tax matters; David Mendel on employment and pensions matters; Vikki Hills on real estate matters; and Giles Pratt on IP/IT matters.

Nov 30

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields is advising ESR Group Limited (‘ESR’) on its proposed privatisation from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by a consortium led by Starwood Capital Group, Sixth Street and SSW Partners (and which also includes QIA, Warburg Pincus, and the founders of ESR) by way of scheme of arrangement.  Additional information is available here. The proposed transaction values ESR at HK$55.2 billion (approximately US$7.1 billion) on an equity value basis, making it the largest privatisation from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2021. Upon the scheme of arrangement becoming effective, the consortium offeror will own 100 per cent of ESR. The proposed privatisation is subject to various conditions, including approval by independent shareholders and regulators. ESR is Asia-Pacific’s leading new economy real asset manager and one of the largest listed real estate investment managers globally. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction was led by partners Edward Freeman and Grace Huang and counsel Danny Li, with support from counsel Cindy Kwong, senior associate Dickson Chan and associate Eric Cheung. Partner Matthew O’Callaghan and associate Lu Feng are advising on regulatory issues, counsel Stephanie Chiu is advising on employment issues, partners Christine Laciak and Aimen Mir are advising on US law matters, and partner Alastair Mordaunt, counsel Laurent Bougard and associate Ziqi Zhou are providing foreign investment and antitrust advice. Partner Daniel Cendan, counsel Matthew Haggans and associate Alice Jeon are advising on compliance matters.

Dec 6

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Li & Fung Limited (‘Li & Fung’), a leading global supply chain solutions provider, and Temasek, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, on their sale of LF Logistics Holdings Limited (‘LF Logistics’) to A.P. Moller - Maersk for an enterprise value of US$3.6bn. The transaction was entered into in December 2021 and closed today (31 August 2022) after receiving all of the requisite regulatory approvals. LF Logistics, with its Asia-Pacific wide footprint and industry-leading fulfilment capabilities, will play a critical role in advancing Maersk’s strategic intent to support customers’ end-to-end supply chain needs. The Freshfields team advising on the deal was led by partner and China Chairman Teresa Ko and partner Sarah Su. They were supported by associates Dickson Chan and Lola Wu. Competition advice was provided by partners Hazel Yin and Alastair Mordaunt and associates Charles Tay and Wenting Ge. IP&IT advice was provided by partner Richard Bird and senior associate Tamsin Westley. Tax advice was provided by partner Helen Buchanan, senior associate Chris Gotch and associate Joe Williams. About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on groundbreaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise, and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.

Aug 31

1 min