News

International law firm Clifford Chance has been named the top law firm for private equity transactions in Europe for the twelfth year running and in Asia for the third time, in the annual Private Equity International Awards. These awards are voted for by readers of Private Equity International.

In 2012, Clifford Chance advised on 38 private equity buyside deals globally worth US$12.1 billion.

David Walker, Global Head of Private Equity at Clifford Chance, comments: "We are delighted to have won these awards again which are particularly significant as they represent the views of clients and peers in the industry. They are clear, independent evidence of the market leading private equity practice we have built not only in Europe but in Asia as well."

Select global private equity deals in 2012 include advising:

• Montagu Private Equity on the sale of BSN medical to EQT VI for a purchase price of approximately €1.8 billion.
• Equistone Partners Europe on the €1billion sale of Global Blue to Silver Lake and Partners Group. The firm also advised on the acquisition of Global Blue in 2007.
• Clayton Dubilier & Rice and Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the purchase of a significant stake in leading UK variety retailer, B&M Stores.
• The Carlyle Group on its strategic minority investment in Export Trading Group (ETG) – the first investment made by Carlyle’s Sub-Saharan Africa Fund.
• Metropolitan Light Company Limited (a company formed by CVC Funds) on the HK$5 billion (US$641 million) acquisition and acquisition financing of Hong Kong Broadband Network and the IDD business from City Telecom (H.K.) Limited.
• CVC Asia Pacific and Standard Chartered Private Equity Limited on the divestment of Singapore-based Infastech to Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. The firm also advised on the acquisition of Infastech in 2010.

The firm reinforced its winning position by claiming the European Law Firm of the Year and Asia Law Firm of the Year titles, in transactions and fund formation, at the 2012 Global PERE Awards.