Deal: Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Computershare on its underwritten pro-rata accelerated renounceable entitlement offer with retail rights trading, in order to raise $835 million to fund the acquisition of the assets of Wells Fargo Corporate Trustee Services (CTS).

Value: $835 million.

Area: Finance. 

Key players: The legal team advising Computershare was led by partner Michael Ziegelaar, who was assisted by senior associates Sam Kings, Andrew Earle, and Jennifer Wong, and solicitors James Paolucci and Amy Pereira. Goldman Sachs and UBS AG, Australia Branch are acting as joint lead managers to the entitlement offer. 

Deal significance: Computershare is a global company that specialises in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, proxy solicitation, and stakeholder communications. 

According to the firm’s statement, the entitlement offer proceeds will be used to partially fund Computershare’s acquisition of CTS, a leading provider of trust and agency services to both corporate and government clients in the US. 

The company is represented in all major financial markets and has over 12,000 employees worldwide.    

VIEW ALL

“We are proud to be advising Computershare on the capital raising to fund this landmark transaction. The acquisition of CTS is a key milestone in the continued international expansion of Computershare and we are delighted to be associated with such an important transaction,” said Mr Ziegelaar.