Due to ongoing economic difficulties and industry change, much of our recent work in the holidays, fitness and entertainment sector has focused on corporate reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals, investments and re-financings.

Our experience includes advising:

  • Carlson Companies and One Equity Partners on the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel Inc (CWT), a US based business travel management company, from Accor SA;
  • Carlson Wagonlit España, SA in connection with the acquisition of the Spanish travel agency Viajes Mapfre;
  • Carnival on various aspects of its UK and European businesses since its acquisition of P&O Princess Cruises;
  • Cinven on the sale of Fitness First, the world’s largest fitness company, to funds advised by BC Partners for an enterprise value of £835m. We also advised Cinven on the Fitness First acquisition in 2003;
  • Dubai International Capital on the combination between The Tussauds Group (controlled by Dubai International Capital) and Merlin Entertainments Group (controlled by the Blackstone Group) for £1.03bn and a 20 per cent stake in the resulting combined enterprise;
  • eDreams, Inc., the leading on-line travel agency and fastest growing travel company in Southern Europe, on its sale to private equity firm TA Associates for €153m;
  • Esporta, the UK based leisure clubs chain, on its defence of the £133m hostile bid from Duke Street Capital;
  • Eurodisney on its financial restructuring;
  • Gondola Acquisitions Limited, a company formed at the direction of funds managed and advised by Cinven Limited, on its acquisition of Gondola Holdings plc for £559m;
  • P&O Princess Cruises on the takeover by Carnival for £4.75bn;
  • Thomas Cook on its merger with MyTravel Group Plc;
  • TUI AG on the merger of its travel subsidiary TUI Travel with First Choice Holidays Plc; and
  • Tussauds on the real estate aspects of the acquisition and financing of 100 per cent of the shares in the London Eye Company, and on a new 25 year lease granted by South Bank Board.

News

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