Clifford Chance (CC), Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have all landed advisory roles alongside Travers Smith on a deal which will see CVC Capital Partners form a partnership with Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC to invest in the roadside assistance provider RAC through the purchase of Carlyle’s stake in the latter.
The RAC is the second-largest roadside assistance provider across the UK and has approximately 8.6m members as of 30 September, 2015. During Carlyle’s ownership, revenues grew from £417m in 2010 to £498m in 2014.
CC advised longstanding client CVC with a team led by corporate partner David Pearson. The firm also recently advised CVC, which holds $60bn in funds under management, on its $150m acquisition of a 50% stake in Arteria Networks Corporation, a Japan-based telecoms carrier focused on enterprise customers.
Linklaters advised Carlyle on the exit with relationship partner Alex Woodward leading, while Freshfields advised GIC with global financial investors group co-head David Higgins leading a team.
Travers Smith advised RAC management on the transaction with senior partner Chris Hale leading a team alongside corporate partner Adam Orr.
Last year Freshfields, Linklaters and Travers combined for the same clients as Carlyle sold half its majority stake in RAC to GIC.
The transaction is subject to approvals and is expected to close in early 2016.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
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