News | Private Equity

Monday 5th November 2001

SJ Berwin represented Alphyra Group plc in its acquisition of the Transaction Services Division of De La Rue Plc. The consideration for the purchase was £6 million, to be satisfied by the payment of £3 million in cash and £3 million by the issue of shares in Alphyra Group Plc.

The Transaction Services Division comprises a pre-paid cellular platform accredited to all the network operators currently live with electronic top-up (Vodafone, Orange and BT Cellnet). Alphyra will look to employ this platform for its own transaction requirements in the UK and across other European markets. In addition, the Company acquired the rights to the PAYzoneª brand, one of the UK's leading national utility payment brands.

The SJ Berwin team was led by corporate finance partner Michael Goldberg, supported by corporate assistant David Parkes. De La Rue was represented by Blake Lapthorn whose team was led by partner Simon Treherne.

• SJ Berwin is a full-service international legal practice with more than 470 lawyers across its offices in London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Madrid and Paris.
• SJ Berwin has recently won the European Venture Capital Journal Award for Private Equity Law Firm of the Year 2000, Law Firm of the Year and Property Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2000, and Competition Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2000.