Linklaters has advised a consortium of investors, comprising Global Infrastructure Partners, Blackstone and Cascade, on its recommended offer for Signature Aviation plc, a London-listed market-leading provider of global aviation support services. The deal values Signature at $4.7 billion.

The consortium’s offer follows the recommended offer for Signature Aviation plc made by GIP in January 2021, in respect of which Linklaters also advised GIP.

The Linklaters team was led by partners Chris Boycott (Private Equity, London) and Nick Rees (Private Equity, London) supported by managing associate Sofiya Bumagin (Private Equity, London) and associate Polde Petek (Private Equity, London). Partners Nicole Kar (AFIG, London) and Jonathan Gafni (AFIG, Washington D.C.), counsel Nick Peristerakis (AFIG, Brussels) and associate Juliane Guderian (AFIG, London) led on the antitrust and foreign investment aspects of the transaction. Partners Alek Naidenov (Banking, London) and Tom Waller (Banking, London) advised on the financing aspects of the transaction. The team also included partners Claire Petheram (Pensions, London), Sinead Casey (Employment & Incentives, London), Jillian Naylor (Employment & Incentives, London) and counsel Bradley Richardson (Employment & Incentives, London).

The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in Q2 2021.

It is the latest high-profile deal for the firm in the aviation sector, following its role advising Cathay Pacific on its HK$39 billion recapitalisation in June 2020 and the sponsors and underwriters on IAG’s rights issue in October 2020.