Charles Leeming

Private M&A

• Representing Foresight Group and management on the exit of Onfab Limited (pharmaceutical containments) to US PE-backed trade (Thompson Street Capital Partners), Savillex (2023).
• Representing ECI Partners on its investment in Commify, Europe’s leading provider of business messaging solutions to local enterprises, in a deal valued at €300 million, from Hg (2023).
• Acting as co-counsel with Paul Weiss, advising TPG Rise Climate on a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in A-Gas, the global leader in the supply and lifecycle management of refrigerant gases, from KKR (2023).
• Representing ECI Partners and the management and other shareholders of Tusker (a provider of electric company cars and salary sacrifice car schemes) on the £300 million+ sale to Lloyds Banking Group (2023).
• Representing HIG on its acquisition of CPS Building Services Limited (2022).
• Representing CSL (ECI Partners) on its strategic acquisition of Caburn Telecom (2022).
• Representing Cavotec on the global carve-out and divestment of its Airports Business to US-based investment company Fernweh Group (2022).
• Representing the shareholders of AnyVan (Celeres Investments, CEO/founder, management) on its £125 million growth capital investment by Vitruvian Partners (2022).
• Representing ECI Partners on its sale of Avantia Insurance in a fund-to-fund transaction conducted on a third-party arm’s-length basis (2021).
• Representing Cazoo on its offering into commercial vehicles via its acquisition of Vans365 (2021).
• Representing Sports Republic on its acquisition of Southampton Football Club (2021).
• Representing D&C Brands on the sale of Dr. Organic Group Ltd, a pioneer in the natural/organic personal care sector, to Damier Group (2021).
• Representing The Craftory on its investment in Freddie's Flowers (2021).
• Representing the selling shareholders (including Great Hill Partners) of Reward Gateway on its sale to Castik Capital and Abry Partners (2021).
• Representing the founders and other selling shareholders of Qmee (one of the Top 100 fastest-growing Tech companies in Europe according to the Financial Times 1000 2021) on their sale to funds advised by private equity sponsor, CapitalD (2021).
• Representing US corporate and PE-backed (Oak Hill Capital Partners), Safe Fleet, on its acquisition of Durite, the UK’s leading brand for electrical, lighting and vehicle safety aftermarket products for commercial vehicles (2021).
• Representing Lloyd's Register in connection with the global carve-out and sale of its Energy services business to Inspirit Capital (2020).
• Representing ECI Partners on the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital in CSL (Dualcom), the international critical communications service provider (2020).
• Representing Apax in connection with its acquisition of the Baltic Classifieds Group.*
• Representing KKR in connection with its carve-out acquisition across over 60 jurisdictions of Unilever’s “Spreads” business (now Upfield).*
• Representing KKR in connection with its acquisition of A-Gas.*
• Representing Apax on its acquisition of the remaining stake in Unilabs.*

*Denotes a matter handled prior to joining the firm.

Public M&A

• Representing Blackstone on the sale by it, and its consortium (GIC, CPPIB and Thomson Reuters), of Refinitiv to The London Stock Exchange Group PLC in a reverse takeover whereby the sellers will receive c.37% of the economic entitlement and c.30% voting rights in the enlarged group.
• Representing Silver Lake in its take-private of ZPG PLC (Zoopla).
• Representing Blackstone on its take-private of Japan Residential Investment Company Limited.

Joint Ventures

• Representing Regis Group PLC and its founders on their multibillion-dollar JV with Blackstone in the PRS real estate sector, Leaf Living (2021).
• Representing Blackstone on its shared ownership and affordable rent joint venture with Regis Group plc (Sage Housing).

Management Incentive Plans

• Advising the founders and management team of Regis (see above) on their management incentive plan with Blackstone relating to the Leaf Living JV (2021).
• Advising the management team of Oddschecker on their management incentive plan with US PE sponsor, BRUIN Capital (2021).
• Advising the founders and management team of Qmee on their reinvestment and management incentive plan with CapitalD (2021).
• Advising the management team of a KKR controlled portfolio company on its management incentive plan (2021).
• Advising the management team of Ascential PLC’s political intelligence, research and stakeholder engagement business, DeHavilland, on its MBO with Bridgepoint (2021).
• Advising the following in regards to management incentive plans – Casual Dining Group, A-Gas, Unilabs, Auto Trader and Travelopia.