A&O is advising regular client Kelda, which confirmed yesterday that it had received an approach from a consortium of infrastructure funds comprising Citi Infrastructure Investors, GIC Special Investments, Infracapital Partners and HSBC.
The magic circle law firm, which this summer advised Kelda on its return of approximately £750m to shareholders, is fielding a team that includes corporate partners Ian Stanley and Mark Gearing, associate Duncan Bellamy and antitrust partner Mark Friend.
Freshfields, meanwhile, is acting for the consortium, with corporate partner Martin Nelson-Jones leading a team that also includes senior associate Piers Prichard Jones.
GIC is taking separate legal advice on its role in the consortium and has turned to regular adviser O’Melveny & Myers, where
The US firm has previously advised Singapore investment company GIC on its role in consortium bids including the £10.3bn takeover of UK airports operator BAA last year by Spanish construction giant Grupo Ferrovial. Freshfields took the lead role for the consortium on that deal.
Top 10 City firm Lovells has also gained a role on the deal, with banking partner Andrew Briggs and corporate partner Stephen Bryan leading a team advising consortium member Infracapital.
Kelda is the latest water company to attract the interest of infrastructure funds. Last month A&O advised a JP Morgan-led consortium on its £4.2bn acquisition of Southern Water from Royal Bank of
Meanwhile, Freshfields acted for the consortium that last year took over Anglian Water Group for £2.2bn – a deal on which Linklaters acted for the target.