What the team is known for
Top-ranked team maintaining a strong position in the private equity sphere. Advises on M&A across a range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, real estate, retail and pharmaceutical. Public M&A is another area of expertise, with experience in MBOs, private placements, public tender offers and other ECM mandates. Acts for a notable client base on issues which frequently involve international elements.

Strengths
Clients appreciate the team's availability and ability to manage transactions: "All the key elements were covered and under control. They were very speedy and responsive 24/7, and they were extremely fast at grasping complex matters."

Another satisfied client states: "Bech-Bruun is in all respects a top-notch firm."

Work highlights
Advised new client Total on the Danish law aspects of its proposed USD7.495 billion acquisition of Maersk Oil.

Notable practitioners
According to one client, Jacob Hjortshøj is the "best in class for M&A tasks." He represents companies as well as private equity funds, financial institutions and investors. He advised Solix Group on its acquisition of Skiold. Another source highlights his "pragmatic" and commercial approach, combined with "a very sharp legal mind."

Ole Nørgaard advised new client Knoll on aspects of its acquisition of Muuto from Maj Invest Equity. Nørgaard's clients laud his "great negotiation skills and approach to legal documentation." He handles a range of mandates for both industrial companies and investment funds.

Steen Jensen has significant expertise in public M&A and equity capital market mandates, including private placements. Clients describe him as "very helpful and thorough," and multiple sources praise his commercial approach.

Chambers and Partners Europe, Corporate/M&A

Chambers and Partners Global, Corporate/M&A

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

Ranked: tier 1

The department at Bech-Bruun consists of 'excellent negotiators', who are 'skillful' and 'have a no-nonsense approach that drives the whole M&A process forward'. The 'outstanding and always available' Steen Rode 'acts quickly when needed' and heads up the practice, which also includes Søren Kamp Nørbæk, who focuses on cross-border transactions. In a recent highlight, Rode advised AEA Investors on its acquisition of Alpha Offshore Services; other notable mandates include Jacob Hjortshøj assisting SolixGroup with its purchase of Skiold, Ole Nørgaard acting for Teradyne on its € 121m acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Mobile Industrial Robots from its shareholders, Claus Aagaard Nielsen advising Nine United Denmark on its $66m sale of 26% of its share capital to Herman Miller, and Simon Milthers, who has 'expert regulatory insights', handling Total's $7.4bn acquisition of Maersk Oil.

Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A