News & Events | News

Thursday 28th June 2007

Leading corporate firm SJ Berwin LLP advised established client Universal Music Group ("Universal") on a recommended cash offer for The Sanctuary Group plc ("Sanctuary"), an international music group, encompassing recorded music, merchandising and artist services (including artist management and live agency).  Artists currently managed by Sanctuary include Elton John, The Who and James Blunt.

The team advising Universal was led by corporate partner William Holder alongside relationship partners Stephen Kon (EU/Competition) and Rob Day (Corporate), with specialist advice from media partner Robb Klein. William Underhill of Slaughter and May advised Sanctuary.

William Holder commented: "Universal is a key client of the firm and we are delighted to be able to advise them on another strategic acquisition. This transaction again demonstrates the combined strength of our M&A offering and our media sector expertise."

In September 2006, SJ Berwin advised Universal on the €1.63 billion acquisition of BMG Music Publishing, which received clearance from the European Commission last month.

For further information, please contact:

William Holder, Corporate Partner on 0207 111 2189 or by emailing william.holder@sjberwin.com

Aurelia Spivey, Business Development Manager on 020 7111 2060 or by emailing aurelia.spivey@sjberwin.com

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• 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.  Our buyouts team is currently ranked No 1in the mergermarket European buyouts by volume table for the first half of 2007.
  
  
• 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 Markets" 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