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Checklist This Checklist outlines the IP matters that commonly require attention when drafting share purchase agreements (SPAs). It also considers points to address when carrying out the related IP due diligence and structuring around such transactions. For information on the corporate elements of these deals, see: Share purchase agreement—overview. For guidance on key provisions and issues relating to IP in the context of a share purchase, see Practice Note: IP issues to consider in share purchase contracts. For information about IP due diligence, see: Precedent: IP due diligence questionnaire; and Checklist: Intellectual property due diligence in share purchase transactions—checklist This Checklist covers technology only to a limited degree. If IT represents a principal asset of the target company, more detailed warranties should be included in respect of, eg, IT systems and core software...
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This checklist outlines the principal steps for an intra‑group reorganisation carried out by selling shares in an English‑incorporated company to another English‑incorporated company, and flags matters that may affect the company during the process. It also identifies potential issues that may arise for the company as a consequence of this approach. It is not comprehensive, as the specific issues and actions for a share‑sale reorganisation will vary between transactions. For an overview of the key points relevant to an intra‑group reorganisation by asset sale, see: Intra‑group reorganisation (by asset sale)─checklist. Considering a corporate reorganisation may call for specialist input across several disciplines. Please seek further guidance on the following areas where required: Property Employment Pensions Intellectual property Information technology Finance Tax For further information, see Practice Notes: IP and IT aspects of intra‑group reorganisations and Intra‑group reorganisations and pensions. Issue Guidance Determining the reorganisation structure and other preliminary considerations (general) Asset purchase or share purchase?...
This Flowchart This Flowchart sets out the usual stages and timetable for proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), previously known as the Patents County Court. IPEC also sits within the Intellectual Property List (Chancery Division), itself a component of the Business and Property Courts of the High Court. The broader Intellectual Property List comprises two sub-lists: the Patents Court and IPEC. Claims can alternatively be issued in a regional centre of the Business and Property Courts...
Background to and scope of this flowchart On 31 October 2004—often called ‘M Day’—providers and brokers involved in regulated mortgage contracts (RMCs) came within the regulatory perimeter. Any individual or firm undertaking a regulated activity in the UK in the course of business, where no relevant exclusion or exemption applies, is required to hold authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000)...
Mergers The Commission cleared: Hartree Partners Holdings, LP’s acquisition of exclusive control of Touton S.A. (M.12189), following a phase I investigation—see further in Midday Express the establishment of a joint venture by EVH Grüne Energie – Beteiligung GmbH & Co. KG and HSBC Alternative Investments S.C.A. SICAV-RAIF (M.12240), following a phase I investigation—see further in Midday Express the setting up of a joint venture by RCL Cruises Ltd....
Mergers The Commission approved: the securing of joint control over Kee Safety Group by Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP and 65 Equity Partners Pte. Ltd (M.11983) following a phase I investigation—for further details, see Midday Express the attainment of joint control of Grand Bahamas Shipyard Ltd...
Mergers The Commission approved: the establishment of a joint venture between Dalkia SA, Eiffage SA, RATP Solutions Ville SAS, and the City of Paris (M.12214) following a phase I review—see also Midday Express the acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. of sole control of Clario Holdings, Inc...
CASE HUB See more, timeline, commentary and connected cases. Case facts European Commission merger inquiry under Article 14(1) EUMR into inaccurate or misleading information supplied by KKR during the Commission’s 2024 review of KKR’s acquisition of NetCo. Latest developments On 24 July 2025, the Commission opened its investigation. Parties KKR & Co. Inc (KKR): Headquartered in the US, KKR is a global investment firm providing alternative asset management alongside capital markets and insurance services. NetCo: Based in Italy, NetCo is a newly established company that comprises FiberCop—presently jointly controlled by KKR and TIM—as well as TIM’s primary and backbone fixed-line network...
Public M&A deals 2018—UK––Market Standards Trend Report [Archived] ARCHIVED: This content was published in 2019 and is not maintained. The Market Standards trend report delivers in-depth analysis of the 42 firm and 49 possible offer announcements for companies governed by the Takeover Code in 2018. It shares insight on public M&A patterns and what we might anticipate in 2019 and thereafter. What does the Market Standards trend report cover? deal structures value and volume of deals hostile takeover activity industry focus public-to-private transactions UK and overseas bidder activity post-offer undertakings disclosure of bidder’s intentions legal and regulatory developments The report also examines high-profile transactions, including Melrose’s hostile offer for GKN and the competing...
Public M&A deals 2017—UK—Market Standards Trend Report [Archived] ARCHIVED: This material was issued in 2018 and is no longer updated. The Market Standards Trend Report delivers a comprehensive examination of the ninety firm, as well as possible, offer announcements concerning companies governed by the Takeover Code in 2017. It provides insight on public M&A trends and what we may expect to see in 2018 and beyond. The report features expert analysis from Selina Sagayam, Head of UK Transactional Practice Development at Gibson Dunn, and Adam Cain, Senior Associate at Pinsent Masons. Areas explored include transaction structure, among other topics as well,...
Date provision Substitute the date clause in the share purchase agreement (SPA) with the following updated wording to read: This Agreement is delivered on [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Recitals Recital (B) Remove ‘legal and beneficial’ from Recital (B) entirely. Definitions Revise the following existing definitions set out in clause 1 (Definitions and interpretation) of the relevant precedent SPA (where used in the SPA): Definition of ‘Business’ Replace ‘the City of London’ with ‘[ Edinburgh OR Glasgow OR Aberdeen ]’ instead. Definition of ‘CRTP’ Replace the definition of ‘CRTP’ with the following new definition: CTPRS means Contract (Third Party Rights) (Scotland) Act 2017; Definition of ‘Encumbrance’ Delete ‘assignment’ immediately preceding ‘right of first refusal’, as Scots law uses assignation rather than assignment. Delete ‘legal or equitable’ immediately preceding ‘third party right’, as Scots law does not recognise this separation of ownership...
Insert the following as new definitions (if not already included) in the definitions and interpretation clause of the share purchase agreement: 1 Definitions and interpretation Fairly Disclosed • means information [ fully, fairly and accurately ] disclosed [ (relating specifically to the subject matter of the Warranty and without omitting any fact which may render the Warranty and the matter disclosed untrue, inaccurate and misleading) ] and presented with sufficient clarity and detail to allow a buyer to reach a clear, informed and accurate evaluation of the relevant facts, matters or circumstances concerned; Losses • means any and all liabilities, costs, outgoings (including legal expenses), claims, actions, proceedings, damages, fines, penalties, loss of profit [ and Consequential Loss ]; Tax Warranties • denotes the warranties [ and representations ] contained in paragraph [ insert number ] of Schedule [ insert number ], and Tax Warranty refers to any one of them; Warranties • signifies the warranties [ and representations ] included in Schedule [...
Introduction This concerns the acquisition by [ insert buyer name ] (the Buyer) of the [ entire share capital of [ insert name of target company ] Limited, incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert company number ] (the Company) OR [ insert description of the business to be acquired ] (the Business) as a going concern, together with specified assets used in the Business ] from [ insert seller name ] (the Seller) (the Proposed Acquisition). This questionnaire is intended to enable the Buyer, the Buyer's solicitors, patent and trade mark attorneys, and other professional advisers to gather essential information about the IP owned and/or used by the [ Company and its subsidiaries OR Business OR which the Buyer requires to assist in the valuation of the Company OR Business and with the negotiation of the Proposed Acquisition ] . Please respond to every single question in full. Please set out your answers in italics immediately beneath each question and supply copies of all relevant documentation,...
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (M(SSC)A 2013) confirms that marriages between same-sex partners are lawful and effective. Under s 9 of M(SSC)A 2013, civil partners in England and Wales can convert their partnership into a marriage, should they wish to do so. That conversion terminates the civil partnership, with the resulting marriage treated as having existed from the date the partnership was created. Before M(SSC)A 2013 came into force, same-sex marriages formed overseas were recognised in England as civil partnerships, falling within the category of ‘overseas relationships’ under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, rather than as marriages...
Contract law regulates the recoverable loss arising under a limitation of liability provision in a share purchase agreement where a warranty is breached. Warranties comprise contractual declarations or assurances concerning the state of the target company, its operations, assets and liabilities. Should a seller provide a warranty in a share purchase agreement that later turns out inaccurate, untrue or misleading, the buyer may pursue a breach of warranty claim and seek damages from the seller for losses thereby suffered by the buyer...
Can the respondent refuse to agree the stay unless the applicant pays the costs incurred by the respondent? What factors will the Tribunal consider in deciding whether or not to agree the stay? The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) is a statutory creation, with authority derived from the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (TCEA 2007), which established it, and the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013, SI 2013/1169 (the Property Chamber Rules). Importantly, the decision to impose a stay does not rest with the parties. That is a defined case management power conferred on the FTT by the Property Chamber Rules (SI 2013/1169, r 6(3)(m)). When exercising its powers, the Tribunal must give effect to the overriding objective, requiring cases to be handled fairly and justly (SI 2013/1169, r 3(1) and (3)). Consequently, a respondent cannot make agreement to a stay contingent upon the applicant meeting the respondent’s costs; whether a stay should be granted is a matter for the FTT to decide in line with its...