Trade publication Finance Dublin has announced its Deals of the Year Awards that recognise the best in class Irish corporate finance transactions and the leading deal makers and professional services firms that advised upon them.
This year, 159 deals were nominated and 32 deals awarded across five award categories – Mergers & Acquisitions, Debt Capital, Debt Capital, Loans & Financing and Financial Services.
In the SME Finance category, The Griffin Group and their legal advisers ByrneWallace won a gong for refinancing of the group’s funding under a five year agreement with AIB. The hospitality group owns Monart Destination Spa, Hotel Kilkenny and the Ferrycarrig Hotel in Co. Wexford. The Group was historically multi-banked.
Mark Kavanagh, Head of Banking & Finance at ByrneWallace, the lead partner on the transaction, explained that the law firm advised on the review and negotiation of the facilities agreement and security package for the refinancing, as well as all transaction and related ancillary documents. Working with EY, the team also advised on the negotiation of the terms of the debt restructure and the release of security held by each of the lenders who were being refinanced.
2017 Deals of the Year Awards
Mergers & Acquisitions
M&A Deal of the Year: Greencore's acquisition of Peacock Foods, and its financing
Reverse Merger and Redomicilation: Johnson Control/Tyco merger and subsequent listing of Adient
M&A (Public): Sumitomo's acquisition of Fyffes
Merger: Paddy Power Betfair merger
Hostile Takeover: Worldview Capital Management hostile takeover of Petroceltic
Small Market M&A: Mitsubishi's acquisition of 60 per cent of Electroroute
MBO: Extraspace Group
In Association with
Equity Capital Markets
Initial Public Offering: Draper Esprit IPO
Placing & Public Offer: Cairn Homes
Restructuring: Kenmare resources capital raise and restructuring
Hybrid Securities: Glanbia Co-Op exchangeable bond
Redomiciliation: Innocoll's cross border merger into Ireland
Debt Capital Markets
Debt Capital Markets Deal of the Year: Ardagh debt issuances
Corporate Bonds: SMBC Aviation Capital
Private Placement: Goshawk Aviation
Aviation ABS: Apollo AASET 2016-2
Refinancing: daa tender offer and new note issuance
State Bodies: ESB 15 year bond
Loans & Financing
Loans & Financing Deal of the Year: Project Jewel.
Large Corporate: Dalata Hotel Group plc - refinancing of syndicated debt facilities
Public Bodies: Coillte
SME Sector: Griffin Group Hotels
Working Capital: Ornua Co-operative Structured Inventory Product
SME Growth Capital: Cup Print
Financial Services (Ireland)
Banking: Bank of Ireland and Grattan Securities DAC
Most Innovative: Glanbia Milkflex Fund
International Financial Services
IFS Deal of the Year: Amundi's acquisition of Kleinwort Benson Investors
Aviation Finance: Norwegian EETC
Insurance: Queen Street XII Re DAC
Financial Technology: Ornua - Wave blockchain trade finance
Financial Services Passporting: Passporting of Banking Services - Avantcard
Investment Funds: Bain Capital Credit - establishment of an AIFMD-compliant ICAV
