News & Events | News

Tuesday 26th June 2007

Leading private equity firm SJ Berwin LLP advised European Capital S.A. SICAR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS), on the €337 million secondary buyout of the Hillarys Blinds business from Change Capital Partners LLP.  Hillarys existing management team has co-invested with European Capital in the business going forward. 

Hillarys is the UK's leading provider of made-to-measure window blinds.  European Capital’s One Stop Buyout™ process enabled them to provide all debt and equity capital necessary to complete this transaction and differentiated their offer in a highly competitive auction process. 

Corporate partner Tim Wright commented: "European Capital are a great team to work with and we are delighted to have assisted them in their successful bid for this business. Their One Stop Buyout™ process plays to SJ Berwin’s strengths in conducting focused and thorough due diligence for debt and equity sponsor purposes and completing transactions in a time scale that meets our clients commercial aims. This is our second successful mandate for European Capital in the last 12 months having previously advised them on the acquisition of Farrow & Ball."

The SJ Berwin team was led by corporate partner Tim Wright, assisted by corporate associates Stephen Sweeney, Nick Brown and James Darbyshire. Rob Andrews and Matthew Cowman advised on the financing aspects.

For further information, please contact:
Tim Wright, Partner on 020 7111 2575 or by emailing tim.wright@sjberwin.com
Aurelia Spivey, Business Development Manager on 020 7111 2060 or by emailing aurelia.spivey@sjberwin.com