• Matheson advises US firm on acquisition of Irish tech company

Matheson has advised US-based Modern Hire on its recent acquisition of Ireland-based video technology company Sonru.

Sonru, a leading provider of automated video interviewing technology in EMEA and Asia Pacific, has been acquired by Modern Hire, a portfolio company of US private equity fund Riverside.

Corporate M&A partner Brian McCloskey and senior associate Sandra Lord led the cross-departmental Matheson team advising Modern Hire and Riverside on the transaction.

Mr McCloskey said: “We were delighted to work with Joe Manning and the rest of the Modern Hire/Riverside team on this transaction.

“Whilst the M&A market in Ireland, as elsewhere, has been impacted by COVID-19, we have seen a definite trend over recent months of the increasing influence of private equity funds and their portfolio companies on the transactional market.

“This is something that we would expect to continue over the short to medium term.”

• Arthur Cox advises MSD Animal Health on acqusition of IdentiGEN

Arthur Cox has worked with US-based Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP to advise MSD Animal Health on its recent acqusition of IdentiGEN.

IdentiGEN is a leading provider of DNA-based solutions to the agri-food industry, with operations in Ireland, the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada.

MSD, a division of Merck & Co, acquired the company from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland for an undisclosed sum.

Corporate and M&A partner Michael Coyle led the Arthur Cox team with support from Conor O’Keeffe and Ailbhe Ní Bhriain in the corporate and M&A team, tax lawyer Orlaith Kane, employment lawyer Grace Gannon, pensions lawyer Michael Shovlin, IP/IT lawyer Ian Duffy, and real estate lawyer Lucy Byrne.

• NI: A&L Goodbody advises on manufacturer’s double acquisition

The Belfast office of A&L Goodbody (ALG) has advised Mzuri Holdings Limited on its acquisitions of UK-based Swift Blinds Direct and Netherlands-based Coolblinds.

The acquisitions follow an earlier investment by BGF into Mzuri, which owns Decora Blind Systems and Domus Lumina, a leading European manufacturer and distributor of indoor window coverings with operations in Northern Ireland, England and Lithuania.

Corporate partner Peter Stafford led the ALG team, supported by associate Nikki Stewart and solicitors Amyee Taylor and Jacob Gray.

Mr Stafford said: “We are proud to have partnered with Mzuri to advise on its investment by BGF and this latest round of acquisitions. We look forward to continuing to support the growth and success of the business in the coming years as it enters into this exciting new phase of growth.”

• Flynn O’Driscoll advises Intellicom shareholders on €5.5m sale

Business law firm Flynn O’Driscoll has advised the shareholders of Irish communications company Intellicom on its sale to Welltel.

The deal, which was completed for €5.5 million according to The Irish Times, is the latest in a series of acquisitions for Welltel.

Intellicom, headquartered in Dublin, provides voice and data services to companies such as 11890, Capita, Europcar and Athlone Institute of Technology.

Writing on LinkedIn, partner Alan O’Driscoll said: “We were delighted to have advised the shareholders on the sale of Intellicom to Welltel. Congratulations to Neil Wisdom and Cian Maher. Thanks to Gerry Jones, Hazel Manks and Diann Cannon for all the heavy lifting!”

• ByrneWallace advises on refinancing of Co Cavan wind farm
  

ByrneWallace has advised Close Leasing Limited relating to facilities provided to a 50 per cent shareholder in a 20.5MW wind farm in County Cavan.

The facility was utilised to, inter alia, re-finance the existing debt secured on wind farm. The wind farm consists of 10 Senvion turbines and benefits from REFIT 2 support.

The ByrneWallace team that advised on the transaction comprised banking partner Paraic O’Kennedy, banking senior associate Karen Outram and partner Gavin Blake, who heads up the energy and natural resources team.

• A&L Goodbody advises on €60m Dublin real estate sale
  

A&L Goodbody (ALG) has acted for UK property company Henderson Park Capital on the sale of a prime Dublin office building to German real estate fund manager KanAm Grund.

The property at 30-33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 forms part of the Capital Collection which Henderson Park acquired in 2019 and was reportedly sold to KanAm for €60 million, according to The Irish Times.

ALG’s commercial real estate team, led by partner Niamh O’Sullivan, acted for Henderson Park on the sale.