• Eversheds Sutherland advises Blantyre on multi-million NI investment

Eversheds Sutherland has advised London-based investment firm Blantyre Capital on its multi-million pound investment into UK and Ireland offsite construction specialist McAvoy Group.

Corporate partner Gavin O’Flaherty led a cross-office Dublin and Belfast team, assisted by NI real estate partner Gareth Planck, banking partner Darragh Blake, NI employment partner Lisa Bryson, tax partner Alan Connell, construction partner Mark Varian and dispute resolution partner Stephen Barry.

Principal associate Damian McElholm, senior associate Alison Bearpark, associates Corrina Cassidy, Christine Quigley and Robert Dever, and solicitors Seamus Long, Nina McKeag, Hannah McKeague, Fiona Lipsett, Niall McCavitt, Connor McAleese and Amy Collins also assisted on the transaction.

Adam Phillips, head of investments at Blantyre Capital, said: “This is a significant investment for Blantyre and it was essential we had the right legal team on board to ensure its success.

“Eversheds Sutherland put together a team that covered all bases. Their knowledge of the local market proved invaluable and the approach they took ensured a successful completion.”

Mr O’Flaherty said: “We were delighted to support Blantyre on this transaction and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

• Matheson advises on establishment of physical backed precious metal programme

Matheson has advised HANetf, an independent exchange-traded fund (ETF) and exchange-traded commodity (ETC) specialist, in connection with the establishment of a physically backed precious metal products programme in partnership with The Royal Mint.

The initial product to be launched under the programme, a gold ETC, will be backed by gold bullion, made available to investors across Europe and will list on the London Stock Exchange. Under the partnership between The Royal Mint and the specialist white label ETF issuer, HANetf will issue, manage and distribute the RMAU.

This is the first ever listed financial product to be backed by The Royal Mint and the first physically gold backed ETC to be launched in partnership with a European Sovereign Mint.

Matheson partners Alan Keating and Turlough Galvin, co-heads of the firm’s finance and capital markets department, led the team acting on the transaction.

They were assisted by tax partner Kevin Smith, finance associates Micheál Buckley and Bláthnaid Martin, and listing executives Margot Carty and Yvonne Lappin.

Mr Keating said: “We were delighted to work with the HANetf team on the establishment of this exchange-traded physically backed precious metal products programme on behalf of The Royal Mint.

“The programme demonstrates HANetf’s commitment to the ETF and ETC industry as a whole and to providing cutting edge offerings to its customers.”

• McCann FitzGerald advises Dubray shareholders on sale to Eason

McCann FitzGerald has advised the shareholders of Dubray Books on the company’s sale to Eason.

Dubray was founded in 1973 and has eight bookstores across the Greater Dublin Area and Galway and employs around 90 people. Easons is Ireland’s oldest book retailer.

Partner Ben Gaffikin led a team advising on all corporate, employment, competition, data protection and real estate aspects of the transaction.

• Philip Lee advises tech start-up NearSt on £2m seed funding

Philip Lee has advised retail tech start-up NearSt in raising £2 million in seed funding from investors.

The start-up uses data from retailers’ point-of-sale systems to show customers up-to-date online information about stock availability in shops near them.

The new funding from notable investors including YYX Capital brings its total fundraising since its 2015 establishment to over £3.2 million.

Partner Andrew Tzialli led the team advising on the fundraising.

• ByrneWallace advises Zalando on significant Dublin office letting

ByrneWallace has advised online fashion platform Zalando on its letting of the second, third, fourth and fifth floors of the redeveloped 2 Windmill Lane scheme in Dublin 2.

This is one of the largest office lettings so far in 2020 and follows the establishment of Zalando’s Irish headquarters in 2015 and the subsequent lease of their flagship premises in 2018.

Michael Walsh, head of property, led the ByrneWallace team, assisted by property partner Neil Dunne, construction partner Martin Cooney, and Philip Nolan, head of indirect taxes.