Andrew Gray

Willkie advised Motors.co.uk Limited (MOTORS) on its acquisition of the Cazoo brand from Cazoo Ltd, which fell into administration in May 2024. MOTORS is backed by private equity firm Novum Capital. Following the acquisition, announced on June 28, MOTORS will launch an all-new Cazoo app and website with over 250,000 used car listings. The MOTORS website will continue to operate with the business still offering car dealers access to a large audience across its network of sites which includes partners eBay and Gumtree. David Soden and Matthew Mawhinney of Teneo Financial Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of Cazoo. The Willkie team was led by partner Andrew Gray and included partners Graham Lane and Briony Pollard, associates Oliver Smith and Nicholas Potgieter, and trainee solicitor Eyo Ntekim.

Jul 16

1 min

Willkie recently advised Recochem, a leader in automotive liquid solutions and portfolio company of CapVest Partners LLP, on its acquisition of KIK Consumer Products’ Auto Care business, which comprises Prestone Products in North America and Holts in the UK. Prestone Products, Holts and their affiliates develop, manufacture and market antifreeze/coolant and other essential automotive fluids and car appearance products in North America and other key international markets. CapVest is a leading international private equity investor focused on investments in companies supplying essential goods and services. In November 2023, Willkie represented CapVest Partners in its acquisition of Recochem. The Willkie team was led by partners David Arnold, Neil Townsend, Patrick Sandor and Andrew Gray and counsel Sidney Nunez, and included associate Hayden Kursh.

Jun 27

1 min

Willkie advised Acronis AG, a leading cybersecurity and data protection platform for managed service providers, in connection with a sale of a majority stake to the EQT X fund. On August 7, Acronis announced that EQT is acquiring a majority stake in the company, with founders, management and certain existing investors remaining as significant minority shareholders. Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers, small and medium businesses, and enterprise IT departments. The Willkie team was led by partners Howard Block, Gavin Gordon and Jeffrey Korn and included partners Michael Katz, Andrew Gray and Rahul Saha and associates Alaric Green, Ethan Douglas, Ben Pearlman, Nayanika Ruia and Harry Buchanan.

Aug 9

1 min

On June 17, RSK Group Limited, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions, announced that it entered into an agreement to receive a £500 million preferred equity investment from a consortium led by Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. and Ares Management Corporation funds. Willkie acted for Searchlight on the investment. RSK works with more than 8,000 clients in 40 countries on six continents. Its family of more than 200 environmental, engineering and technical services businesses and 15,000 employees work together to provide practical solutions to some of the greatest challenges societies have ever faced. Searchlight is a global private investment firm with more than $14 billion in assets under management and offices in London, New York, Miami and Toronto. The Willkie team was led by partners Gavin Gordon and Andrew Gray and included partner Ashley Young, counsel Timothy Sawyer, and associates Meghal Mehta, Ashley Braham and Lachlan Johnson.

Jun 17

1 min

Willkie advised Natra, a portfolio company of CapVest Partners, in connection with its acquisition of the Gudrun group, a leader in the development, production, packaging and commercialization of Belgian chocolates and truffles, from Down 2 Earth Capital. Natra is a leader in the production of chocolate bars, pralines, tablets and spreads, which it sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. Its ingredients division also supplies a wide range of cocoa-based ingredients to the international food industry. The company has over 1,000 employees across six production plants in Spain, Belgium, France and Canada. Willkie previously advised CapVest Partners on its acquisition of Natra in 2022. The Willkie team was led by partners David Arnold, Andrew Gray and associate Meghal Mehta.

Oct 1

1 min