Expertise/Private
Equity
Private Equity
Expertise across the full lifecycle of private equity matters
The fast-changing nature of private equity transactions requires an agile full-service private equity practice. From fundraising and initial investments to exit transactions and closing down of the fund, and everything else that arises en route - our clients can count on strategic thinkers who offer creative solutions, and who understand their financial and commercial interests. This perspective, combined with our extensive experience, global presence and cross-practice approach with experts in all relevant areas, enables us to deliver appreciable added value for our clients.
We advise private equity funds, venture capital funds and other investment funds, limited partners, management teams and senior debt and mezzanine providers on their domestic and international transactions, and their legal and tax structuring.
We have in-depth knowledge in:
- private equity transactions ranging from private acquisitions to public-to-private transactions and from complex cross-border leveraged buy-outs to venture or growth capital investments, including advice on management participation schemes and on the tax and financing aspects of those transactions; and
- the formation and regulation of domestic and overseas private equity funds.
Contact
Lennard Keijzer
Partner
Arne Grimme
Partner
Related expertise
Mergers & AcquisitionsCapital MarketsFinancial Institutions & FintechRecent Matters
4 May 2023
De Brauw advised Triton Partners on the sale of Unica to Triton IV Continuation Fund
De Brauw advised Triton Partners on the sale of Unica (alongside three other portfolio companies) to a newly-formed vehicle, Triton IV Continuation Fund, which closed at €1.63 billion following a competitive auction process. Unica is a leading independent provider of technical services in the Netherlands, focused on end-to-end, sustainable solutions for utility buildings and industry. Unica is set to continue its growth journey through operational excellence and new add-on acquisitions via its proven M&A playbook. The business is further supported by market tailwinds in smart building and energy efficiency. De Brauw worked alongside Kirkland & Ellis, Thomessen and Linklaters to advise Triton on this complex multi asset fund to fund transaction, which provided Triton IV investors with a return of 3.7x on the combined invested capital, or the option to roll into the new vehicle to participate in the Portfolio Companies’ future growth.
4 March 2023Sale of minority stake in Prodrive Technologies to HAL and Pieter Janssen (co-founder & CEO)
The founder and CEO Pieter Janssen of Prodrive Technologies Group B.V. and HAL Investments B.V. have acquired the Prodrive Technologies shares owned by co-founder Hans Verhagen.
24 January 2023Waterland funds reach final close of EUR 4bn in aggregate
De Brauw assisted Waterland Private Equity Investments (Waterland) as Dutch legal and regulatory counsel in relation to the closing of Waterland's ninth institutional flagship fund, Waterland Private Equity Fund IX ("WPEF IX") at EUR 3.5 billion, alongside Waterland Partnership Fund I ( "WPF I") at EUR 500 million. The funds closed at their respective hard caps four months after initial launch. WPEF IX will focus on investments in medium-sized companies in fragmented growth markets in Europe to finance organic and acquisitive growth. WPF I is the first fund of its kind under management of Waterland a natural extension of the Waterland platform. WPF I expects to make minority investments in a very select number of Waterland portfolio companies when these are exited.Interesting features comprised a stapled structure of multiple limited partnerships (CV's) under Dutch law and the use of feeder vehicles under Irish law. In addition to acting as Dutch legal and regulatory counsel, De Brauw also took on a coordinating role via its legal project management and data science department, with DocuSign and interactive subscription tools being used to make the fundraising process more efficient and streamlined.
“The highly motivated team, with prominence in the private equity sphere, has made it a go-to firm for both domestic and international private equity clients.”
Insights
28 October 2022
Proposal for anti-money laundering action plan submitted to Dutch parliament
Draft anti-money laundering legislation has been submitted to the lower house in the Netherlands: (i) limiting cash handled by traders in goods to EUR 3,000, (ii) enabling banks to outsource transaction monitoring and (iii) requiring AML-regulated institutions to exchange client information in high-risk situations.
13 October 2022UBO registration of trusts and funds for joint account mandatory as of 1 November 2022
Legislation introducing UBO identification requirements for trusts and funds for joint account (fondsen voor gemene rekening) will soon enter into force. The UBO register for these entities as kept by the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands will become operational as per 1 November 2022.
2 May 2022Trusts and funds for joint account must identify ultimate beneficial owners
Legislation introducing UBO identification requirements for trusts and funds for joint account (fondsen voor gemene rekening) will enter into force. The Implementation Decree has been published with an implementation date to follow. A UBO register kept by the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands is expected to become operational later this year.
