A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland tops M&A rankings again for 2015 deal activity

Corporate law firm A&L Goodbody has, for the fourth consecutive year, been ranked as the leading legal advisor by value of total deals transacted in Northern Ireland in 2015.

In a report published today by global information services company Experian, A&L Goodbody's Belfast office is listed as the most active legal advisor on deals in Northern Ireland, having acted on almost £1.3 billion of transactions across the year.

Commenting on the report, corporate partner Peter Stafford said: “We are delighted to again be named by Experian as the leading legal advisor by value of deals for the fourth consecutive year on the back of being instructed on significant deals in Northern Ireland in 2015. This accolade is testament to the expertise, commercial focus and quality of work produced by our industry-leading team of corporate lawyers – led by corporate partners Mark Thompson, Alastair Keith, and myself, and supported by our wider team of over 100 people in our Belfast office."

“In 2015 we were struck by the variety of deals in Northern Ireland, both in terms of value and sector. We continued to act on a number of major international transactions such as the disposal by United Drug Group Healthcare of its pharmaceutical distribution division and the acquisition of Valpar Industrial Limited by Micro Matic A/S."

“We also saw a notable increase in the level of significant local deals, acting for Ballyrashane Creamery on its merger with Town of Monaghan Co-Op to create LacPatrick; 3fivetwo Group on the acquisition of St Joseph’s Hospital, Sligo; SS Nomadic Trust on the transfer of the SS Nomadic to the Titanic Foundation; Dalata Group on its acquisition of the Holiday Inn, Belfast; and Adelie (Ireland) Limited on its acquisition of the business of Bite Snack Foods, for example."

“Whilst we recorded significant transactions that we would typically expect in the healthcare, food/agri and energy & renewables sectors, it was also encouraging to note increased activity emerging in other sectors such as hospitality and commercial property."

“We continued to see increased confidence among both local and international investors seeking to invest in Northern Ireland and I think this will continue throughout 2016 – particularly as we begin to edge closer to the lower corporation tax rate in April 2018." 

“Initial indications for the Northern Ireland market this year are positive and we have entered 2016 with a very strong pipeline of local and international deal activity.  I look forward to A&L Goodbody advising on many more significant transactions in the year ahead.”

Date puiblished: 15 January 2016