Wierzbowski Eversheds Sutherland in Warsaw has supported the firm's UK office in the preparation and organization of the documentation of Polish company John Guest Polska Sp. z o.o. in connection with the GBP 687 million sale of the UK's John Guest Holdings to Reliance Worldwide Corporation, which was represented by Herbert Smith Freehills.
John Guest is a family-owned British engineering company that Eversheds Sutherland describes as "a global leader in plastic push to connect technology [that is] one of Europe’s biggest suppliers of plastic fittings for the engineering and plumbing sector.”
RWC is a manufacturer and supplier of premium-branded engineered water delivery, control, and optimization products and solutions for residential and commercial plumbing applications.
According to Herbert Smith Freehills, "the acquisition of John Guest creates a global leader in PTC technology. RWC’s share price increased by approximately 27% on day its shares recommenced trading following the announcement of the acquisition."
Eversheds Sutherland's Polish team included Senior Associate Natalia Burchardt and Banking & Finance lawyer Katarzyna Duda. Eversheds Sutherland lawyers from France, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy also assisted with the transaction.
The Eversheds Sutherland UK team was led by Partner Chris Halliday and included Legal Director Wyn Jones, Senior Associate Lee Harris, Associate Hannah Kaye, and Trainee Solicitor Richard Hughes. Wider support was provided by Eversheds Sutherlands’ Partners Elizabeth Graves, Ben Jones, and Iftkhar Ahmed, Legal Director Jane Southworth, Senior Associates Brendan Moran, and Richard Buxton, and Associate Rachel Stubbs.
Herbert Smith Freehills provided cross-jurisdictional advice to RWC across a number of interrelated legal workstreams. Their team included Partner John Taylor, Consultant Nick Wormald, and Senior Associate Andy Young.
