Law Firms

Ashurst

Hammonds tools up for £1bn Enodis bid

Author: Charlotte Edmond

Published: 14/05/2008 17:37

Email article | Comment on this article | Sign up to News Alerts

Hammonds has scored a starring role on a £1bn deal – advising Illinois Tool Works’ (ITW) on its takeover bid for kitchen equipment manufacturer Enodis.

The firm is fielding a team led by corporate partners Giles Distin and Jane Haxby on the £1.03bn acquisition, acting alongside Kirkland & Ellis and Ropes & Gray, which are providing US advice on the deal.

Hammonds has advised ITW on various UK takeover bids over the last 10 years but this marks the firm’s biggest transaction for the company to date.

Ashurst is advising long-standing client Enodis with City corporate partners Richard Gubbins and Anthony Clare leading.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised UBS as ITW’s financial adviser, while Latham & Watkins advised the Swiss lender as arranger of the bank financing.

ITW’s offer usurps a previous offer by US-based The Manitowoc Company announced last month, which valued Enodis at £955m. The board has subsequently recommended the higher bid.

Distin said: “We have worked on a number of deals for ITW but we have not done a deal this sizable for them before. It is great to be involved in their largest UK takeover to date.”

ITW manufactures commercial food equipment as well as industrial packaging, construction products and electronics.

Enodis makes kitchen equipment for clients including McDonalds and Starbucks and has manufacturing facilities in North America, the UK, Europe and Asia.

More news, deals and comment on Hammonds

Hammonds on the Legal Week Wiki

Job of the Week

Charterhouse - Jersey Trusts

Outstanding In-House Opportunity - London

Job of the Week

Ja.Net Commercial/Procurement Lawyer

Legal Advisor Vacancy - Oxfordshire

Quick Job Search

>Advanced Search