International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising Bank of Montreal in connection with the recommended offer by its wholly-owned subsidiary, BMO Global Asset Management (Europe) Limited, to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of F&C Asset Management plc. The offer values F&C’s share capital at approximately £708 million. It is to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement and is subject to regulatory approvals.
Freshfields Corporate partner Matthew Cosans commented: ‘This is an important deal for our long-standing client Bank of Montreal, as the F&C business is intended to form the centrepiece of BMO Global Asset Management’s European operations. It is always a great experience to work with BMO’s internal legal and compliance teams and especially in this instance, working in multiple jurisdictions on a deal of such significance.’
Freshfields Corporate partners Matthew Cosans and George Swan led the team advising on the deal, with support from associates Chetan Sheth, Philipp Leibfried, Peter Lawley and Ellie Dunne; regulatory partner Mark Kalderon and associate Steven Lightstone; and employment partner Nick Squire and senior associate Alice Greenwell.
