law firm scores double success

30th June 2010

The corporate team has scored a double success by providing legal advice to US software heavyweight, SAS Institute Inc and to drinks subsidiary Waverley TBS.

The corporate team of international firm, HBJ Gateley Wareing, has scored a double success by providing legal advice to US software heavyweight, SAS Institute Inc, in its acquisition of Scottish technology firm, Memex, and to the management of drinks subsidiary, Waverley TBS, as part of a management buy-out involving drinks giant, Heineken.

Memex is well-established and respected in the law enforcement community, with global customers that include the Los Angeles Police Department and the British Transport Police. It has been snapped up by US software heavyweight SAS, with HBJ Gateley Wareing providing advice to SAS on the acquisition.

Memex, which last year turned over around £8 million, will retain its 90 staff in the UK and will keep its R&D site in Scotland. It will act as an independent division of SAS and will sell the company's products into the 118 markets in which SAS operates. SAS's data analysis systems will be packaged alongside Memex's existing software, which brings together information for police departments and other security agencies.

The law firm also provided legal advice to Heineken’s drinks wholesaling subsidiary, Waverley TBS, which underwent a partial management buy-out and was sold to private equity firm Manfield Partners. HBJ Gateley Wareing provided legal advice to the current senior management team of Waverley TBS, which will continue to run the company under managing director Jonathan Townsend. Waverley chairman Mark Gerken has stepped down as part of the deal and a new board structure will be put in place involving members of Manfield.

Waverley subsidiary United Wine Merchants, which operates in Northern Ireland, is not included in the sale and will remain part of Heineken UK. Waverley will retain a number of commercial agreements with Heineken UK, including a brand supply agreement and trading incentives.

Commenting on the success, Malcolm McPherson from HBJ Gateley Wareing said: “This double success is a tremendous achievement, and despite the complexity of both situations is testament to the expertise of our team.”

The corporate team at HBJ Gateley Wareing has more than 40 lawyers, including over 20 partners offering strength in depth and extensive transactional experience.