Freshfields Guides Buyout Firm CVC on $1.3 Billion IPO Plan (1)

CVC Capital Partners turned to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to aid its plan to go public in Amsterdam, as the buyout giant seeks to raise €1.25 billion ($1.3 billion).

Partners Charles Hayes, Christopher Mort, David Sonter, Hanneke Rothbarth and Tom Godwin lead the Freshfields team.

Linklaters advised the banks involved in the deal. Its team was led by partners Pam Shores, Alex Harmse and James Wootton.

The plan is CVC’s second attempt to go public in less than six months and could indicate a path for other private equity firms to go public. The firm is targeting a valuation of around €13 billion to €15 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Private equity firms have faced challenges in finding a path to exit investments among a slow mergers and acquisition market. The initial public offering market has also been sluggish, encouraging companies to turn to cornerstone investors to bolster plans.

CVC is one of Europe’s best known buyout firms. It manages about €186 billion of assets. Companies it owns stakes in include Breitling, a Swiss watchmaker, and Neptune Energy Group, according to the company’s website.