Arthur Cox advises Permanent TSB on €6.4bn acquisitions from Ulster Bank

Arthur Cox has advised Permanent TSB plc on its proposed €6.4 billion acquisition of certain elements of the Ulster Bank retail, SME and asset finance businesses from Ulster Bank.

Permanent TSB has said the transaction, which remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, represents a “decisive step in transforming Permanent TSB to be Ireland’s best personal and small business bank”.

The Arthur Cox team was led by corporate and M&A partner Brian O’Gorman and finance partners Darragh Geraghty and Orla O’Connor.

It included corporate and M&A lawyers Amy McDermott, Kate Hogan, Patrick Munnelly, Eoin McCague and Emma Mullen Reynolds; finance lawyers Darina White, Seamus Barnett and Simon McPartlan; and financial regulation lawyers Robert Cain, Phil Cody, Peter Murphy, Aaron Tangney and Catherine Wolfe.

The team also comprised employee benefits lawyers Séamus Given, Rachel Barry and Mary Heavey; pensions lawyers Michael Shovlin and Enda Kerr; IP/IT lawyers Olivia Mullooly, Ian Duffy, Aoife Mac Ardle and Siobhán O’Shea; competition lawyers Richard Ryan, Simon Breen and Edel O’Connell; real estate lawyers Órlaith Molloy, Elaine Caulfield, Theresa Kiely and Sarah Kelly; litigation lawyers Michael Twomey and Alan Coyne; and tax lawyer David Kilty.

DLA Piper advises Keywords Studios plc on Wicked Witch acquisition

Global law firm DLA Piper has advised Keywords Studios plc on its acquisition of Melbourne-based video game developer, Wicked Witch, as the London-listed technical services provider continues its expansion in Australia.

The DLA Piper corporate team advising Dublin-founded Keywords Studios is being led by partners Matt Cole (Dublin) and Joel Cox (Melbourne), assisted by senior associate Maria Hickey (Dublin) and solicitor Marianna Estifo (Melbourne).

Keywords Studios was established in Dublin in 1998 and now has over 70 facilities in 23 countries strategically located in Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe. Keywords Studios is listed on AIM with a market capitalisation of £2.1 billion GBP.

Established 20 years ago, Wicked Witch is a leading Australian video game developer specialising in games and graphics applications on a wide range of platforms including PC, mobile, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and Virtual Reality.

Mr Cole said: “We are delighted to have assisted Keywords Studios as it pushes forward in Australia. Keywords is a great Irish success story, and this deal is another demonstration of the unique ability of DLA Piper in Ireland to support our clients wherever in the world they are doing business.”

Matheson advises AIB on joint venture with Autolease Fleet Management

Matheson has advised AIB on its recently agreed joint venture with Nissan Ireland, in relation to Autolease Fleet Management.

An initial investment by AIB will help provide more sustainable car leasing options to businesses and personal customers, and further funding over time will support the strategic expansion of the Autolease business, which trades as NiftiBusiness and Nifti Personal Leasing.

The Matheson team was led by partner Caroline Kearns and associate Eoin Shiel, from the firm’s financial institutions group, with input from a team of other specialist lawyers within Matheson’s corporate group.

Ms Kearns said: “The financial institutions group in Matheson is delighted to have advised AIB on this strategic transaction. It is an interesting example of revenue diversification into non-interest income which is a trend that has been evident in Irish banking deals this past year. We look forward to working with AIB to complete the transaction in 2022.”

LK Shields advises Aubren Limited on €7m investment round

LK Shields Solicitors LLP has acted for Portlaoise-based Aubren Limited in a €7 million investment round led by BGF and supported by Pat Beirne and Paul Lynch, who are both investing in their personal capacities.

The transaction, which is subject to CCPC approval, will see will see new members appointed to Aubren’s board as it pursues the development of a new facility in Portlaoise.

The Aubren engineering team works with client companies from across the world to develop air technologies and products which are then manufactured by Aubren in Portlaoise.

The LK Shields team was led by Emmet Scully who had assistance from Kris O’Shea and Cian O’Lionaird.

Dillon Eustace LLP advises MML on investment in Cruinn Diagnostics

Dillon Eustace LLP has acted as legal advisers to MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland (MML) on its agreement to make a significant investment into Cruinn Diagnostics Limited.

Cruinn is one of Ireland’s leading independent distributors of laboratory diagnostics, instrumentation, consumables and related equipment.

The Dillon Eustace team was led by Philip Lea, partner in Dillon Eustace’s corporate and M&A practice, with tax advice from David Lawless, head of tax.

Mr Lea said: “We were delighted to have advised MML on this transaction and this deal marks another significant corporate transaction on which the corporate department has advised in the past year.”