News | Corporate Finance

Tuesday 2nd October 2007

City law firm SJ Berwin advised their long term client Graphite Capital, the leading UK mid market private equity specialist, on the £44 million sale of the UK business of Golden Tulip, the superior budget hotels group, to Whitbread PLC. 

Graphite senior partner, Andy Gray commented: “This transaction enables us to crystallise an attractive gain for investors and the management. “Again the SJ Berwin team delivered legal advice which showed a clear understanding of our commercial objectives  and assisted us in achieving an extremely successful exit.” The sale provides Graphite with a total return of three times its investment.

The SJ Berwin team was led by corporate partner Richard Lever assisted by corporate associate Carl Dickinson.  Richard Lever said: “We were once again delighted to work successfully with Graphite Capital.  Our advice on this transaction highlights SJ Berwin’s breadth of experience advising on deals in the hotel and leisure sector and again demonstrates our ability to deliver a successful exit for our clients.”

Slaughter & May partner Simon Nicholls assisted by associate Matthew Bowden advised Whitbread PLC on the acquisition.

SJ Berwin, under client relationship partner, Martin Bowen, have previously advised Graphite Capital on the MBO/MBI of Micheldever Tyre Service PLC, the sale of Jane Norman Limited, the MBO/MBI of Sk:n and the buyout of the InnBrighton pubs and clubs group.

For further information please contact:

Richard Lever,Corporate Partner on +44 (0)20 7111 2347, email richard.lever@sjberwin.com       

Aurelia Spivey, Business Development Manager on +44 (0)20 7111 2060, email aurelia.spivey@sjberwin.com   

• With more than 200 corporate finance lawyers, the depth and breadth of expertise of our pan-European Corporate Finance Department is considerable.  We offer the complete range of corporate finance services, which extends to all aspects of domestic and cross-border M&A and buy-outs, private equity, equity capital markets, financial services and tax.
  
  
• SJ Berwin was created and thrives as a leading-edge legal services business, focusing on the European and international market place. Our clients are sophisticated buyers of legal services, principally entrepreneurial companies and financial institutions, whom we advise on a comprehensive range of services including Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, Finance, Reconstruction & Insolvency, Financial Services, Litigation, Employment & Pensions, EU & Competition and Tax.
  
  
• The private equity team has won a number of recent awards including:
  
  - "Corporate Team of the Year - Mid Market" at The Lawyer Awards 2007,
  
  
  - “Fund Formation Team of the Year” 2006 at the Financial News Awards for Excellence in Private Equity Advisory Services,
  
  
  - "European Law Firm of the Year" 2004 -  2006 at the EVCA/Real Deals European Private Equity Awards,
  
  
  - "European Law Firm of the Year" (fund formation) 2001 - 2007 by subscribers to PrivateEquityOnline and Private Equity International
  
  
  - "Private Equity Law Firm of the Year" 2004 -  2007 at the European Venture Capital journal awards 2004
  
  
  - "LBO Firm of the Year" 2004 at the Finance and Law Awards in Paris
  
  
• On 1 June 2005, SJ Berwin became SJ Berwin LLP, a limited liability partnership.  www.sjberwin.com.  SJ Berwin LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Turin.