Hugh O’Sullivan

Hugh O’Sullivan

Partner
Spoken Languages
English Spanish
Hugh O’Sullivan
London
+44 (0)20 7447 4258

Hugh O’Sullivan is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity group. His practice focuses on advising sponsors, corporates, funds and financial institutions across a wide range of complex and multi-jurisdictional financing transactions, including leveraged finance, bridge finance, and restructurings.

Experience

Hugh’s recent representative experience includes advising:

  • TA Associates and Francisco Partners on its agreement to become co-controlling shareholders of TA’s existing portfolio company, Orisha, a leading European vertical software company established to bring industry-specific ERP software to a variety of end markets in France
  • A consortium of investors comprising PSG Equity, TA Associates, and Verdane in connection with the refinancing of the existing debt facilities of their portfolio company Hornetsecurity and the acquisition of Vade
  • TA Associates
    • on its strategic growth investment alongside Carlyle in SER, a global Intelligent Content Automation software vendor
    • together with Warburg Pincus on their investment in Epassi, a leading digital payments provider for employee benefits
    • along with Stirling Square on the IPO of construction software provider Byggfakta
    • on its acquisition of Faria Education Group, a leader in international education systems & services
    • on its refinancing of its existing debt in relation to its strategic investment into Hornetsecurity, a leading international cloud security and compliance SaaS provider
    • on its combination of Compusoft with Genstar-backed 2020 Technologies to create a global provider of planning and manufacturing solutions for residential and commercial spaces
    • on its investment in Apex Group, a global financial services provider to asset managers, financial institutions, family offices and corporates
    • Biocomposites, a portfolio company of TA Associates, on the terms of its refinancing
  • TowerBrook Capital Partners
    • on its acquisition of Team Eiffel, a leading provider of integrated consulting and project delivery, outsourcing and interim professional services, from Gilde
    • on its impact investment in Envevo, a provider of EV design and installation engineering services
    • on its impact investment in TXO, a provider of telecom network hardware and asset management services
    • on its acquisition of leading provider of premium finance for commercial and retail insurance products, Premium Credit, from Cinven
  • A consortium comprising Stirling Square, TA Associates and Macquarie, on its recommended public offer to acquire all shares in Byggfakta, a leading provider of data, insights, and software solutions for the construction industry
  • H.I.G. Capital
    • on the acquisition by one of its affiliates of the entire issued share capital of Axis Europe, a leading UK provider of property maintenance services
    • on its acquisition of CLC Group, a leading UK provider of property and asset refurbishment
  • Alvarium on its combination with Cartesian Growth Corporation, Tiedemann Advisors, and TIG Advisors to form ALTi Global, Inc. in a deSPAC transaction creating a leading independent, global wealth and asset manager providing entrepreneurs, multi-generational families and institutions with fiduciary capabilities as well as alternative investment strategies and strategic advisory services
  • Triton on the disposal of German dogado GmbH to international private equity firm Cinven and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
  • Family shareholders of Fedrigoni on their reinvestment in the Italian specialty paper producer alongside Bain Capital and BC Partners
  • EMZ Partners and Sagard on the 4th LBO acquisition of Safic-Alcan, a French independent distributor of specialty chemicals
  • EQT-backed Cerba Healthcare on its agreement to acquire specialized contract research organization Viroclinics from Summit Partners
  • Creat-backed Tiancheng International
    • on the disposal of its majority stake in Bio Products Laboratory, a specialist in the development of rare disease products using fractionated blood plasma, to Permira
    • on its proposed €1.1 billion sale to Grifols of its indirect majority stake in Biotest, a specialist in innovative hematology and clinical immunology solution
  • A pool of banks on the financing for the acquisition of the Grandir Group, a French group operating daycare centers under the “Les Petits Chaperons Rouges” brand, by Infravia
  • HoldCo SAS, a holding company controlled by Xavier Niel, in the financing of the simplified public tender offer for iliad SA shares launched by HoldCo II, a holding company controlled by HoldCo. The iliad Group is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Europe.
  • Advent International:
    • together with its consortium partners, Cinven and the RAG-Stiftung assisting on the acquisition of the elevator division of thyssenkrupp AG*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Hermes UK*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Industria Chimica Emiliana*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Deutsche Fachpflege Gruppe and subsequent add-on acquisition of Bonitas Holdings*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its €1.919 billion acquisition of leading European generics business Zentiva from global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi* and various add-on acquisitions*
  • Bain Capital Private Equity:
    • together with its consortium partners, assisting on the €2.1 billion proposed public takeover of Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj*
    • assisting its portfolio company Wittur on its first and second lien refinancing*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Fedrigoni a leading global producer of specialty papers and self-adhesive labels, from the Fedrigoni family*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Bugaboo, a global and iconic mobility brand from its founding shareholders*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Fintyre, the leading distributor of replacement tyres in Italy from Bluegem Capital*
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Consolis, a leading European group specialised in the design and manufacture of high-performance pre-cast concrete products, from LBO France*
  • RL Datix, a portfolio company of TA Associates and Five Arrows Principal Investments, on various financing matters and add-on acquisitions*
  • Nexi S.p.A. and Mercury UK Holdco Limited on the Initial Public Offering of the ordinary shares of Nexi S.p.A., the largest IPO in Europe to date in 2019, together with Nexi S.p.A.’s €1.5 billion term and revolving facilities*
  • Partners Group:
    • assisting on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Civica, a leading UK-based provider of specialist software, digital solutions and outsourcing services, from OMERS Private Equity*
    • together with its consortium partner PSP Investments assisting on the financing aspects of their acquisition of French clinical pathology lab operator Cerba HealthCare from PAI Partners*
  • Algeco Scotsman, a portfolio company of TDR Capital assisting on the English law financing aspects of its refinancing and reorganization*

*Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Goodwin, Hugh was a partner in the Debt Finance group at Kirkland & Ellis. Prior to Kirkland, he was a Senior Associate at Latham & Watkins, during which he completed a secondment with Goldman Sachs.

Hugh began his legal career as a Trainee Solicitor with Ashurst qualifying into the firm’s finance team.

Credentials

Education

LLB2004

University of Birmingham

Admissions

Bars

  • England and Wales

Recognition & Awards

Hugh is recognised as a “Notable Practioner” by IFLR1000 (2022) for Banking and Finance.

Publications

  • Panelist, “Investing in the Gig Economy: Key Takeaways for Direct Lenders in Tech M&A,” Goodwin Webinar, April 2021