Bech-Bruun's banking and finance lawyers saw a successful year in 2008 and 2009, advising on a number of debt restructurings in the banking market. The banking and finance team has been boosted by the promotion of Tue Ravnholt Frandsen as a new partner and the hire of Anne Kaas Hammer from Danske Bank....
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Bech-Bruun's banking and finance lawyers saw a successful year in 2008 and 2009, advising on a number of debt restructurings in the banking market. The banking and finance team has been boosted by the promotion of Tue Ravnholt Frandsen as a new partner and the hire of Anne Kaas Hammer from Danske Bank. Morton Krogsgaard is also seen by competitors as a lawyer to watch. A rival partner says: "Keep an eye on him. He is a rising star and very good at what he does."
Clients praise the service that the firm provides: "They run the business very professionally," says one client. "Steen Jensen has an excellent practical feeling about how the market works."
Bech-Bruun's client base includes international banks such as Citigroup, Barclays Capital, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Bank of Scotland and DnB Nor Bank.
A highlight for the firm was representing the sponsors on the financing of Barclays Private Equity and Investcorps' acquisition of the N&W Global Vending Group.
Steen Halmind and Morten Krogsgaard acted on a number of significant acquisition finance transactions for Barclays, Investcorp and Nordzucker. In the case of Nordzucker, Halmind and Krogsgaard closed a €750 million financing of Danisco Sugar Group in March 2009.
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"I have used this firm for many years and their service is excellent," says one client. The group's M&A section saw another successful and busy 2008/2009 year....
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"I have used this firm for many years and their service is excellent," says one client. The group's M&A section saw another successful and busy 2008/2009 year.
One of its biggest deals was spearheaded by Niels Kornerup, who acted as counsel to Nordzucker during the latter's $750 million acquisition of Danisco Sugar. The firm backed this up by acting for Seed Capital, JMI and the founders in the sale of Fullrate to TDC in early 2009, and also represented Stryhn on its €27 million sale to Agra Industries.
Mikkel Baaring Lerche advised Shire on its purchase of biopharmaceutical company Metazym from Zymex. The firm also advised Wayport on the sale of the company to AT&T and counselled Energinet Dk on its €300 million acquisition of a transmission network from Dong Energy.
Partner Jørgen Reimier Jensen is appreciated by clients: "He is well experienced, deep into the details, and gives very professional advice."
M&A specialist Tue Ravnholt Frandsen was promoted to partner this year.
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While commentators note that Bech-Bruun has recovered from the departure of some of its lawyers two years ago (who left to set up the new firm Holst in Århus), they note that it hasn't been as active on the big matters in the present market as its tier one competitors. "Their market share is not very big," says one peer....
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While commentators note that Bech-Bruun has recovered from the departure of some of its lawyers two years ago (who left to set up the new firm Holst in Århus), they note that it hasn't been as active on the big matters in the present market as its tier one competitors. "Their market share is not very big," says one peer. "Their visibility on the market is very limited."
Bech-Bruun has expanded this year however, recruiting Jorgen Hauschildt from Abel & Skovgård Larsen. He and his team of five will join Bech-Bruun's Århus office in September 2009, and it remains to be seen whether they can push the firm back to the top tier in the coming years.
The firm was active this year nonetheless, acting regularly as trustee in bankruptcies, as supervisor in suspension of payments matters, as a member of creditors' committees and as creditor representatives. Ole Borch and his team receive mandates from banks and corporations, including Diana Travel Group, Porthus Gruppen and Roskilde Bank.
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