International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised leading private equity firm CVC Capital Partners on its agreement to acquire Ahlsell, the Nordic region’s leading technical products wholesaler, from Cinven and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.

Ahlsell has some 4,500 employees and over 220 outlets in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia and Russia. In 2011, Ahlsell reported revenues of EUR 2.3 billion. 

The Freshfields team advising on the deal was led by corporate partner Chris Bown and senior associate Charles Hayes, supported by associates Emma Mahler and Holly Kinchin-Smith and Nicholas Bond. Partner Sean Pierce led on financing with counsel James Clarke, supported by senior associate Paul Ingram, associate Leon Daoud and Samuel Hunter Jones, with senior associate Sebastian Reger advising on hedging arrangements. Partner Alastair Chapman, counsels Till Steinvorth and Alexander Viktorov, and associate Kaori Yamada provided anti-trust advice. 

Closing of the transaction remains subject to regulatory clearance.