In our latest video series, out antitrust lawyers discuss key merger control issues that dealmakers should consider to ensure a smooth antitrust review of strategic transactions. Click on the video playlist below or visit our video gallery page to hear their views on key topics impacting global transactions; gain practical tips on how to minimize antitrust risk, and ensure a timely deal close. If you have any questions or comments on these topics, please get…

Persisting political and economic uncertainty means awareness of market changes remains crucial. By Simon Baskerville, Tom Evans, David Walker, Stephanie Dellosa, and Catherine Campbell The 2008 distress cycle triggered defaults and restructurings for European PE portfolio companies, as maintenance covenant defaults and balance sheet deleveraging forced refinancings and debt-for-equity swaps. While restructuring conditions for PE firms are stronger in 2019 than they were in 2008, persisting political and economic uncertainty means that…

Cornerstone investments can assist a firm’s overall exit objective, particularly when there are bidders for a portfolio company but no outright buyer. By James Inness, Tom Evans, David Walker, Sonica Tolani, Connor Cahalane, and Catherine Campbell Cornerstone investments, which involve taking a stake in an about-to-list company, have been popular in Asia and in Nordic countries for several years, and are becoming a more regular feature in European deals. The…

With the explosion of AI applications, private equity houses and their portfolio companies must understand where key opportunities lie. By Tom Evans, Kem Ihenacho, David Walker, Laura Holden, Hector Sants, Claudia Sousa, Catherine Campbell, and Patricia Kelly Artificial intelligence (AI) developments provide increasing opportunities for private equity, including deal sourcing and portfolio company analysis/enhancement, particularly in businesses that can adopt a customer subscription model or leverage big data opportunities. However, the adoption of AI technologies,…

The Berlin government’s envisaged five-year rent cap on residential properties has caused significant uncertainty among investors in housing portfolios. By Constanze Kugler and Christian Thiele On 18 June 2019, the Berlin Senate published a position paper specifying details of an envisaged five-year rent cap on residential properties in the German capital. The cap would significantly strengthen current restrictions on rent increases, which can only occur subject to certain rules and within certain limits. Berlin’s government…

Parties should avoid uncertainties by stipulating the applicable law to the arbitration agreement. By Eleanor M. Scogings and Robert Price The decision in J (Lebanon) v. K (Kuwait)[i] provides a useful analysis of which law (i.e., the law of the arbitration agreement or the law of the seat) governs the issue of whether a non-party has become party to the arbitration agreement and, more broadly, how to determine which law governs the arbitration agreement…