Michael Mountain

Michael Mountain

Partner

Michael advises clients on a broad range of corporate transactions, including private mergers & acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, restructurings and special situations transactions. 
He specialises in advising clients with flexible investment strategies including private equity, credit fund, hedge fund and other alternative capital providers on a range of complex cross-border transactions.

Experience

Representative matters

Blackrock on the debt and equity financing arrangements with Razor Group and its subsidiaries.

Anchorage Capital Group and M&G Investments on their £500 million disposal of PHS Group to Bidvest. (previous firm experience)

Anchorage Capital Group, GIC Private Limited. and Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP, on the sale of their interests in Eir, the principal provider of fixed-line and mobile telecoms services in Ireland, to Toohil Telecom Holdings Limited, a company controlled by NJJ. (previous firm experience)

Blackstone Credit on a three-tier financing package to support Advent International’s approximately £4 billion acquisition of leading global technology and services innovator Cobham plc. (previous firm experience)

The ad hoc committee of bondholders of the US$650 million 2022 Notes in the financial restructuring of the diamond mining group, Petra Diamonds, with mines in South Africa and Tanzania. (previous firm experience)

Balderton Capital and the other shareholders in Livebookings Holdings Limited on the sale of the “Bookatable” business to Michelin. (previous firm experience)

The owners of Miniclip, the mobile and online game publisher, on the sale of a majority stake to Tencent Holdings and the related shareholders’ agreement. (previous firm experience)

Basalt Infrastructure Partners LP on its acquisition of 100 per cent of the ownership interest in COMAX France S.A.S from Maxim Power Corp. (previous firm experience)

Basalt Infrastructure Partners LP on its acquisition of bn:t Blatzheim Networks Telecom GmbH and SOCO Network Solution, full-service telecommunications providers based in Germany. (previous firm experience)

Anchorage Capital Group on its disposal of LS Retail. (previous firm experience)

Anchorage Capital Group on its acquisition and ongoing management of a portfolio of assets in Sweden, Iceland and Finland by funds controlled by Anchorage Capital Europe from ALMC, hf. (previous firm experience)

Blackstone Credit on the financing of Advent International’s £1 billion take-private acquisition of Laird plc. (previous firm experience)

Blackstone Credit on their debt and minority equity investment to support iAero Group in a highly complex transaction aimed at creating a pan-American aviation business, including the acquisitions of

AeroThrust Holdings, LLC and Miami Tech Aircraft Maintenance Inc. (previous firm experience)

Blackstone Credit on their debt and equity financing for the management buyout of the XLN Telecom group from ECI Partners LLP (previous firm experience)

Blackstone Credit on the €215 million refinancing of the indebtedness of KP1, a leading French manufacturer of high performance prefabricated concrete products, and subsequent acquisition of the business. (previous firm experience)

Oak Hill Advisors (Europe) LLP on a subscription for shares by Growthpoint Properties Limited and/or accounts managed by Oak Hill Advisors and its affiliates raising proceeds of €200 million before expenses. (previous firm experience)

BlackRock on the debt and equity stress financing of Icelandic Water. (previous firm experience)

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. and certain affiliates on their chapter 11 cases and restructuring negotiations in Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific. Hertz completed its successful chapter 11 restructuring, and its plan of reorganisation became effective on June 30, 2021. This representation is one of the highest profile restructurings arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the most successful chapter 11 and international reorganisations in recent history. (previous firm experience)

Fat Face on its restructuring in which the group was transferred by previous owner Bridgepoint to Fat Face’s lenders and with a fully restructured balance sheet. (previous firm experience)

Pro bono

Advising Global Generation in relation to its governance arrangements.

Qualifications

Admissions

England & Wales, 2010

Academic

LL.B., Oxford University, 2006
Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School, 2007

Languages

English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.