International law firm advises on Β£800m private equity deals
The team advised on deals worth more than Β£800 million, helping to transform and reposition businesses across the UK and beyond.
Among these transactions was a major investment from global asset manager ICG into estate and letting agency organisation Lomond.
This partnership supports Lomond’s continued M&A growth strategy, which now sees the organisation managing more than 60,000 properties across the UK following the completion of multiple deals in 2024.
Notable acquisitions included Kinleigh Folkard & Howard and Chase Evans in London, Miles & Barr in Kent, and Charters in Surrey and Hampshire.
The firm also advised on a range of investments across the retail, hospitality, and leisure industries.
This included supporting private equity firm Piper on investments into Inside Travel Group, a cultural adventures company, and specialist travel operator Martin Randall Travel.
A WBD team supported the Β£15 million investment into personalised pet food company Pure Pet Food by Felix Capital and Mercia Ventures, which will see the Yorkshire-based organisation continue to expand across the UK.
The firm also advised on the sale of the Midlands-based pet retail business Kennelpak (backed by Enact) to Pets & Friends.
Simon Pilling, head of private equity at Womble Bond Dickinson, said: “There is no doubt that 2024 was one of the strongest years in recent memory for the PE team in regards to getting deals across the line and supporting our clients to achieve further growth and return on their investments.
“The sheer number of deals, as well as the significance of many of them not only on the organisations involved, but the markets in which they operate, is incredibly encouraging.
“We’re proud to have played a major role in these transactions and we look forward to continuing this trajectory of growth in 2025.”
The firm’s support on the sale of engineering business Cutwel to Inflexion in August marked more than six years of advising NorthEdge.
Another long-term investor the team supported in 2024 was NVM, supporting a range of transactions including the Β£15 million investment into plant-based ingredient supplier Vegetarian Express, and the buyout of process and manufacturing product supplier MRO+ Solutions.
LDC was also a very active client which saw significant activity beyond the Lomond transaction, with the firm supporting on their major investment into credit risk technology group LendingMetrics, as well as a Β£12 million investment into tech-enabled and ESG-focused water management consultancy Waterscan.
Other deals the firm has supported on over the course of 2024 included the Β£15 million sale of historic soft drink manufacturer Clearly Drinks (backed by NorthEdge), the management buyout of Hull-based Hawthorn Timber Limited (backed by Nimbus), and the investment into Fera Science Limited by Bridgepoint.