11 August 2004 Legal news, law news, law firm news & research at LAWFUELLawrence Graham LLP has advised Millfield Group plc (“Millfield”) on its proposed merger with Inter-Alliance Group plc (“Inter-Alliance”) by way of offer for the whole of the issued share capital of Inter-Alliance. The merged company will be the largest branded independent national firm of financial advisers and will be called Millfield Group plc.
The offer values Inter-Alliance at approximately £11.35 million and is subject to FSA approval.
Lawrence Graham also led the negotiations on the working capital funding which the enlarged group has secured from five leading financial institutions, namely AXA Sun Life plc, Friends Provident Life and Pensions Limited, Prudential UK Services Limited, Scottish Widows plc and Skandia Life Assurance (Holdings) Limited. These institutions have agreed to provide funding to the merged group by way of loans of, in aggregate, up to £15 million for integration and working capital purposes.
Millfield is a leading independent financial services advisory group. The company was admitted to AIM in March 2001 and, through acquisitions and organic growth, has increased its number of advisers and professional staff from approximately 100 as at March 2001 to over 700 today.
Paul Tebbutt, Millfield’s Chief Executive, said
“The team at Lawrence Graham helped us through this complex transaction with speed, efficiency and good humour throughout and the teamwork shown by all the advisers enabled us to bring the deal together over a relatively short period.”
The Lawrence Graham team advising Millfield was led by corporate partner Michael Storar and included partners Lance Feaver and Jane Spiers, and solicitors Victoria Wakefield, Lorna Mitchell and Farhod Moghadam.
Michael Storar said:
“We are delighted to help Millfield move towards the critical mass which will ensure its strength and stability for the future. We acted for Millfield on its flotation in 2001 (and, co-incidentally for Inter-Alliance on its flotation in 1998) and look forward to working with the combined group to meet the challenges which lie ahead.”
Acting for Inter-Alliance were William Brewis and Natalie Mudd of Wragge & Co.
