IFLR1000 Rating 2016
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Mergers and Acquisitions
Bech-Bruun is recognised as one of the leading financial and corporate firms in Denmark. In the corporate space, especially, the team continues to excel and secure some of the most impressive mandates in the Danish market.
Clients specifically point to the “professional and enthusiastic service” provided by the team as a key highlight. “They are very good and helpful in getting the deal through on the terms agreed,” says one senior executive in at an investment group. “There is no lawyering or getting in the way of the deal but instead they are very constructive and helpful in solving issues occurring along the way. The team was led by Jacob Hjortshøj who is one of the very best.”
The firm’s corporate practice, in particular, is something many clients highlight. “I would recommend Bech-Bruun highly and continue to use them on all my work,” says one in-house counsel working in the media sector. “Bech-Bruun are my first choice M&A firm and they handle even the largest and most complex deals excellently.”
That strong praise is supported by others. “It is one of the best experiences I have ever had working with an overseas firm,” says one international partner. “Bech-Bruun are head and shoulders above – in terms of knowledge, value for money and results – of all other firms I've used in Denmark. Their availability was excellent, there were no communication problems and the billing arrangements were flexible and very reasonable considering the work done. They were responsive, understanding of the subject and very good value for money. They are the only firm I would undoubtedly use in Denmark.”
One of the more significant matters the banking and finance team worked on this year saw Morten Krogsgaard taking charge as the firm acted for Solix and the Cembrit group in connection with a junior payment-in-kind (PIK) note issue for the purpose of refinancing certain financial indebtedness. Elsewhere, the team also assisted Landesbank Baden Wurtemberg in connection with its financing of a solar power plant sited at Lerchenbord Gods.
The capital markets team had busy year, with one example of its work seeing it advising LM Group Holding on its (Norwegian) kr475 million green bond issue. It also acted as Danish counsel to Danica in its acquisition of bonds issued by Sitecore.
Probably the strongest practice within the firm – certainly one of the strongest in Denmark – is the M&A team, for whom it was another strong year. For example, this year Ole Nørgaard led a team advising Teradyne on its $285 million acquisition of the entire share capital of Universal Robots. Elsewhere, Simon Milthers was the partner in charge when the firm assisted AP Møller–Mærsk with the kr4.1 billion sale of Esvagt to 3i Infrastructure and AMP Capital Investors.
One of the top names in the Danish restructuring and insolvency space, examples of the firm’s recent work include seeing Ole Borch acting for F-Group – with Nordea as the major creditor – in its in-court restructuring process. He also continues to lead the way in assisting Aage Østergaard Horsens – where Sydbank and Danske Bank are the major creditors – with its out-of-court restructuring.
IFLR1000, Mergers and acquisitions