Matheson advises JPMorgan on restructuring of EU credit institutions

Matheson has advised JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on the restructuring of its existing EU credit institutions by way of a simultaneous cross-border merger of JPMorgan banks in Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany and their conversion into J.P. Morgan SE, a new European company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

The reorganisation of the firm’s EU legal entity structure sees no change to its existing office locations, which are now run as a JPMSE branch network across the European Economic Area (EEA), with significant operations in Dublin, Luxembourg and Paris.

Matheson advised JPMorgan on the Irish aspects of the structuring, preparation and implementation of the simultaneous cross-border merger, working with lead counsel Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Germany.

The cross-departmental Matheson team was led by corporate partner Caroline Kearns and senior associate Eugene Reavey from the firm’s financial institutions group, working with partner Brendan Colgan and senior associate Kathryne Rice in the litigation team as well as regulatory partner Joe Beashel.

Ms Kearns said: “Congratulations to our client JPMorgan on the conclusion of this pivotal firm-wide project. This transaction is a further example of the strength and depth across Matheson’s market-leading financial institutions, litigation, tax, employment and financial regulatory teams, and of our experience in successfully delivering for clients on complex and innovative transactions involving global financial institutions.”

Ronan Daly Jermyn advises Capstone on Swedish acquisition

Ronan Daly Jermyn (RDJ) has advised Cork-headquartered Capstone Financial Services on its acquisition by Swedish firm Agria Djurförsäkring.

Founded in 2008, Capstone operates the Petinsure.ie brand which offers insurance for dogs and cats in Ireland and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Capstone operates with the brand Zoopo, offering pet insurance and a pet management tool.

The recent acquisition gives Agria an immediate footprint in the Irish pet insurance market which it plans to expand. Agria is now active in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The RDJ transaction team included Diarmaid Gavin and Aidan Burke in the corporate and commercial team, John Cuddigan and Mark Ludlow in the tax team, regulatory lawyer Brian Hunt and employment lawyer Claire Macken.

A&L Goodbody and Paul Hastings advise eir on partnership with InfraVia

A&L Goodbody and global law firm Paul Hastings LLP have advised Eircom Limited on a new partnership with InfraVia Capital Partners to create a dedicated fibre company focused on deploying fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) across the State.

The FTTH network will provide ultrafast speeds across Ireland, accelerating the country’s digital transformation. InfraVia will acquire a 49.99 per cent interest in the entity, with eir retaining the remaining 50.01 per cent.

The Paul Hastings team was led by corporate partner Garret Hayes, while Mark Ward and Charles Carroll at A&L Goodbody provided Irish law advice to eir.

Eugene F Collins advises NDC Media on acquisition by Gambling.com Group

Eugene F Collins has advised NDC Media and its affiliate business BonusFinder.com on its request acquisition by Dublin-headquartered Gambling.com Group.

Gambling.com has agreed to pay an aggregate purchase price of €12.5 million, as well as performance-based earnout payments that could boost the total to €60 million.

Deborah Kelly, partner and head of EFC’s corporate law department, led the team advising NDC on the transaction.

Ronan Daly Jermyn advises ByrneLooby on Spanish acquisition

Ronan Daly Jermyn (RDJ) has advised Irish engineering consultancy ByrneLooby on its acquisition by Spanish technology and engineering giant AYESA.

Employing more than 225 people across 14 offices in Ireland, Britain and the Middle East, ByrneLooby provides engineering and design services across a number of specialist sectors including marine and coastal, buildings, transportation, energy, environment, water and waste management.

The RDJ transaction team included Gillian Keating, Sean O’Reilly, Liam O’Keeffe, Teniola Ayeni in the corporate and commercial department, Brendan Cunningham in banking, Mark Ludlow in tax, Claire Macken in employment, and Simon Lynch and Evan Collins in property.

ByrneWallace advises Circle Voluntary HA on acquisition of Waterford development

ByrneWallace LLP has acted for Circle Voluntary Housing Association on its recent acquisition of a development at Mount Neil, Grace Dieu, Waterford.

The housing scheme comprises of 26 houses in Phase 1 with a further 31 houses to be delivered in Q1 2022.

Circle VHA is one of the largest approved housing bodies in Ireland, working together with local authorities, State agencies, developers and funders to deliver new-build social and affordable housing solutions.

The ByrneWallace team who advised on this transaction included partner Neil Dunne, and solicitors Robert Fetherstonhaugh and Aoife Coughlan (property); partner Deirdre McBennett and associate Michael O’Neill (banking and finance); and partner Martin Cooney and senior associate Deirdre Hennessy (construction).