Burges Salmon’s corporate team has advised the UK and US senior management team of Hydro International on its acquisition by pan-European private equity firm Agilitas, with financing provided by EQT Credit, a Swedish private equity group, and Lloyds Bank.
The transaction was handled by a cross-firm team involving lawyers from corporate, tax and employment, led by corporate partner Mark Shepherd and associate lawyer Alex Lloyd with support from legal director Ian Carnochan, senior associate James Green and trainee solicitor Vicki Milner.
Hydro International is headquartered in Clevedon, UK, with significant US operations, and has operated in the water management sector since the 1980s. The company is a technology leader in all its niches, and its customers rely upon the company to improve their water management processes and operational performance, whilst reducing environmental impact. The company employs 219 staff, predominantly in the UK and in Maine and Oregon in the US.
The Burges Salmon team worked closely with corporate finance advisers, FRP Advisory, led by Mark Naughton. US tax advice was provided by Thompson Hine, part of the Burges Salmon Preferred Firm Network.
Mark Shepherd says: “The senior management team at Hydro International have been instrumental in its success to date. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with them at the outset of this new chapter in Hydro’s continued success and look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength with Agilitas’ support.”
Roger Crook of Hydro International comments: “We are very grateful to Burges Salmon and FRP for the seamless support that they have provided to us, the management team. They have been a pleasure work with and their expertise, coupled with a pragmatic and directional approach, have been invaluable in guiding us through this transaction with Agilitas.”