Nicola leads the UK Deal Advisory business and is a Consumer Deals Partner with over 20 years of professional experience, almost exclusively in advising a range of corporate and private equity clients on M&A transactions.
Nicola has focussed on consumer deals, leading some of the most high profile international deals in the sector, including Mars, Froneri, Tate & Lyle, ABF, Diageo, Evergreen and Jimmy Choo.
Selected credentials include:
- Multiple deals with Mars Inc including the disposal of drinks vending business to Lavazza, the disposal of Mars Inc’s US private label pet food business to Arbor Investments, acquisition of European veterinary groups, Linnaeus and Anicura and the acquisition of the majority of P&G’s Pet Food Business.
- Acquisitions for Exponent Private Equity including Evergreen, the European & Australian operations of The Scott’s Miracle-Gro International and subsequent bolt-on acquisitions, the acquisitions making up Vibrant Foods (which included the acquisitions of TRS Foods and East End Foods), the acquisitions of Eat Real and Proper Snacks and most recently the acquisition of Gu Desserts.
- Advised Tate & Lyle on the acquisition of CP Kelco, a US maker of speciality ingredients.
- Advised Froneri on its Joint Venture business plan (the coming together of Nestle’s ice cream business and R&R Ice cream) and advised R&R Ice cream on many bolt on acquisitions including Peters Ice cream and the South African Nestle business. Advised on the disposal of Findus Switzerland to Nomad Foods.
- Disposal of s number of high growth food businesses such as Quorn Foods to Monde Nissin, Natural Balance Foods (Nakd Bars) and Kiddylicious to Lotus Bakeries and Meridian nut butters to SHS Group.
- Unilever’s disposal of Bifi & Peperami, Royal Pasta and Findus Italy to Birds Eye Iglo.
- Premier foods non-core disposal programme including the following disposals, Elephant Atta brand to ABF, Brookes Avana to 2SFG, Ella Food’s disposal to Hain Celestial.
- Advised on the Jimmy Choo IPO, the sale of Hobbs to the Foschini Group, the sale of Radley to Bregel Freshstream, the acquisition of Office by Truworths.