William E.H. McDonald

Will McDonald is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions practice group.

Will advises strategic and private equity clients on public and private M&A and corporate finance transactions, with a particular focus on complex, cross-border M&A. He advises across multiple industries, including defence, aerospace and aviation, technology, real estate, and natural resources.

Will has particular experience in UK public M&A, having been seconded for two years to the UK Takeover Panel as a case officer. During his time at the Panel, he regulated more than 250 transactions governed by the Takeover Code, including Anheuser-Busch InBev's £71 billion offer for SABMiller, Zurich's abortive £6 billion bid for RSA, Liberty Global's £4 billion offer for Cable & Wireless Communications, Lonestar's £700 million offer for Quintain Estates and Development, the competitive takeover of Salamander Energy by Ophir Energy and the hostile takeover of ISG by Cathexis.

Will received a M.A. Hons. in History (first class) from the Universities of Edinburgh and Washington in 2004 and a Graduate Diploma in Law with commendation from BPP Law School in 2005. He completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in 2006. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.

Prior to joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Will was a partner in the mergers and acquisitions practice of another major international law firm.

Will's experience includes advising: *

• SHI, Ltd. in connection with its follow-on investment into Highview Power, a global leader in long-duration liquid air energy storage plants. The £300 million debt and equity funding round was led by the UK Infrastructure Bank and Centrica alongside an equity syndicate of existing and new investors.
• J.F. Lehman & Company in the acquisition and financing of all of the outstanding membership interests of Mission Microwave Technologies, LLC, a designer of radio frequency and microwave electronics supporting ground-based, airborne and space-based applications.
• Verint in the acquisition of Qudini Limited, a provider of appointment scheduling solutions.
• J.F. Lehman & Company and its portfolio company, Global Marine, on the sale of the Global Symphony offshore support vessel to Jan de Nul Group, and sale of other related assets to another strategic investor.
• Macquarie, in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Euston Solar Farm Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
• Web Financial Group, S.A. in the sale of all its technology business to Allfunds, one of the world’s leading B2B WealthTech platforms for the fund industry.
• Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie Green Investment Group Renewable Energy Fund 2, in its acquisition of 50% of the shares in Island Green Power Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.
• Sun Communities, Inc. on its acquisition of Park Holidays UK for approximately $1.3 billion.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company Integrated Global Services, Inc., a leading provider of thermal spray and other surface protection solutions, of international cleaning and inspections solutions provider, Tube Tech.
• Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company on its debt and equity investment in Low Carbon Energy Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Low Carbon Limited, an established pan-European renewable energy developer and fund manager.
• Bally's Corporation in connection with the $2.7 billion acquisition and financing of Gamesys Ltd., an LSE-listed online gaming company.
• DMI in its strategic investment from an affiliate of OceanSound Partners, LP.
• J.F. Lehman & Company on the sale of BEI Precision Systems & Space Company, Inc., a company that designs, engineers, and manufactures highly accurate, resilient, and reliable position feedback sensors and frequency reference technologies for mission-critical space, land, air, and sea applications, to Quantic Corporate Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management.
• TransDigm Group Incorporated on the sale of Technical Airborne Components, a leading designer and manufacturer of rods and struts for the aerospace industry, to Searchlight Capital Partners.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, on its acquisition of a substantial investment in Trillium Engineering, LLC, a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered camera gimbals for unmanned aerial systems ("UAS") performing mission-critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, from its founders.
• The British Land Company PLC on the sale of a 75% interest in a portfolio of three buildings in London's West End to Allianz Real Estate for £401 million. The portfolio included three buildings, 10 Portman Square, Marble Arch House, and York House, all of which are in Marylebone.
• TransDigm Group Incorporated as regulatory counsel in the $965 million acquisition of Cobham Aero Connectivity, a leading provider of highly engineered antennas and radios for the aerospace end market.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, on the acquisition of CTS Engines, LLC and CTS Testing, LLC.
• HNA, on the cross-border restructuring of the air freight and logistics business, Swissport.
• Koch Equity Development LLC, the acquisition and investment subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., on its investment into AIM listed Victoria plc, a UK-based global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of flooring products.
• L Brands, Inc. in its partnership with Next PLC for its Victoria's Secret business in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• Freudenberg SE, the global technology group, in connection with the £107 million takeover offer by group member, FV Beteiligungs-GmbH, of Low & Bonar PLC.
• OMNOVA Solutions Inc. in its $824 million acquisition by Synthomer plc, a United Kingdom-based specialty chemical company.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Global Marine Group.
• Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., a technology leader in industrial machinery and environmental and power technologies, in its $46 million investment into Highview Power, a global leader in long-duration energy storage solutions.
• Hansteen Holdings PLC in the £500 million recommended cash acquisition of Hansteen by Potter UK Bidco Limited, a newly-formed company indirectly owned by investment funds advised by affiliates of The Blackstone Group Inc..
• Hansteen Holdings PLC in the sale of its Belgian real estate portfolio to a Belgian real estate investor.
• Earls Court Investment Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of a joint venture between a fund advised by Delancey and APG on behalf of its pension fund clients, in connection with its £425 million acquisition of EC Group Holdings Limited from a subsidiary of Capital & Counties Properties Plc.
• Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Invertek Drives Ltd. which makes variable frequency drives which are used to control motors in a variety of industrial, commercial, and energy saving applications.
• GCA Altium as financial advisor to Project Sword Bidco Limited, a vehicle established by private equity firm NorthEdge Capital LLP, in connection with its £90 million acquisition of Catalis Plc, a provider of development, testing, and publishing services for the global video games market.
• AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA on the €330 million auction sale of the Solidus Solutions group to funds advised by Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
• The British Land Company PLC on the disposal of 12 superstores held by a joint venture between BL and J Sainsbury PLC to Realty Income Corporation, an entity listed on the NYSE, for aggregate consideration of £429 million (representing a net initial yield of 5.0%).
• Roper Technologies, Inc. in its acquisition of Foundry, a leading provider of software technologies used to deliver award-winning visual effects and 3D content for the digital design, visualization, and entertainment industries, in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million.
• Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary, Huadong Medicine Aesthetics Investment (HongKong) Limited, on Huadong's takeover offer for and acquisition of Sinclair Pharma Plc with a total value of approximately £169.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company BEI Precision Systems & Space Company, Inc. of Thistle Design (MMC) Limited, a supplier of encoders, resolvers, and other positioning and measurement sensors for the defense and industrial markets.
• Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC in a recapitalization of its and PSP’s Chapter portfolio of student accommodation properties, one of the largest in Central London, by consolidating the portfolio under a new joint venture in which Allianz acquired an interest.
• Houlihan Lokey EMEA, LLP in its capacity as financial adviser to GVC Holdings PLC in connection with its up to £3.9 billion cash and share combination with Ladbrokes Coral Group plc.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company National Response Corporation of Clean Line Waste Water Solutions Limited, a provider of environmental, industrial and emergency response services in the United Kingdom.
• Verint Systems Inc. in its £26.3 million offer for eg solutions plc.
• CB Richard Ellis Real Estate Group Services Inc. in its acquisition of an interest in the H2O Rivas Shopping Centre in Madrid, Spain.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing by investment affiliate AGI Holdings LLC of Aish Technologies Limited, a provider of ruggedized display systems, cathodic protection systems and other subsystems for the UK and U.S. navies, as well as other global defense and commercial customers.
• Reynolds American Inc. regarding the acquisition by British American Tobacco, p.l.c. of 57.8 percent of the outstanding shares of RAI not owned by BAT and its affiliates in a transaction valued at $49 billion. The sale was effected through a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of BAT with and into RAI.
• Hansteen Holdings PLC in connection with a voluntary recommended cash for Industrial Multi Property Trust PLC, an Isle of Man close-ended property investment company admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
• Hansteen Holdings PLC in the disposal of its German and Dutch property portfolios and real estate management business for €1.28 billion to entities owned by funds advised by affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. and M7 Real Estate.
• PW Real Estate Fund III, LP, which was advised by Aermont Capital LLP, in relation to the £323.3 million cash offer for the entire issued share capital of Pinewood Group plc, the AIM listed company which owned the Pinewood Studios business.
• Nick Weber in the formation of Henderson Park Capital Management, a London based private equity real estate asset management platform.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition by its portfolio company National Response Corporation of United Kingdom based Sureclean Limited, a provider of specialty solutions to the oil and gas, petrochemical, renewables, utilities, civil engineering, and construction sectors, and the related acquisition financing.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the sale of portfolio companies Drew Marine and ACR Electronics, Inc. to affiliates of The Jordan Company.
• Beaumont Partners SA in connection with the $60 million acquisition financing of the 711-room, 33-story Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in downtown Montréal, Canada. Co-investors included Campus Crest and other investors.
• The British Land Company Plc in the acquisition of its joint venture company's entire issued share capital of wholly owned subsidiary Surrey Quays Limited, including the remaining shares of the 300,000-square-foot Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
• LondonMetric Property Plc in connection with a £60.5 million acquisition and related financing of Primark Distribution Unit, a warehouse distribution center in Thrapston, Northamptonshire, through a corporate purchase.
• IBRC Assurance Company and two other investors in the £21 million sale of all assets of the Met Quarter Property Unit Trust, including a high-end shopping center in Liverpool, by three co-investors to Columbus UK Real Estate Fund.
• The British Land Company PLC in connection with their joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management following Norges acquisition of London & Stamford's 50% shareholding in Meadowhall Shopping Center for £1.5 billion
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing by portfolio company Drew Marine of the maritime interests of Chemring Group PLC, a designer, manufacturer, and seller of counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment, countermeasures, pyrotechnics, and munitions.
• J.F. Lehman & Company, in connection with the acquisition and related financing of ACR Electronics, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of life-saving devices, from Chelton Avionics, Inc., a Cobham plc group company.
• Trace One SA in the acquisition of the PLM business of Agentrics.
• SAV Credit Limited in connection with the £472 million sale by Palamon Capital Partners, Electra Private Equity, and Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, of SAV to Värde Partners.
• Praesepe plc, a UK-based gaming company listed on AIM, in its £45 million acquisition of Beacon Entertainments Limited, one of the largest adult gaming centers and bingo club operators in the UK, and related placing to existing and new shareholders.
• UK REIT Hansteen Holdings plc in relation to the approximately €330 million acquisition and related financing of the German portfolio of the Halverton Babcock Industrial Fund.
• London Town Group in its restructuring negotiations with Anglo-Irish Bank in relation to senior facilities of £80m.
• The British Land Company PLC in the purchase of 50% of the issued share capital of Shopping Centres Limited, a 50/50 joint venture with Tesco Plc, which indirectly owns the Surrey Quays and Clifton Moor Shopping Centres.
• J.F. Lehman & Company in its $375 million sale of AIS Global Holdings LLC, a leading provider of mission-critical guidance, stabilization and navigation products and systems, d/b/a Atlantic Inertial Systems, to Goodrich Corporation, a leading provider of mission critical guidance, stabilization and navigation products and systems for the global defense market.
• J.F. Lehman & Company in its $120 million acquisition of the Drew Marine Business, a global leader in providing technical solutions, high-value products and services to the marine industry, of Ashland Inc., a Fortune 500 diversified chemical company.
• Connaught PLC in its £12 million acquisition of UK Fire (International) Limited.
• Hansteen Holdings PLC, a property company investing in industrial property, in connection with its £200 million institutional placing and open offer, underwritten by KBC Peel Hunt Ltd, for the purpose of purchasing industrial properties, valuing the company at £335 million.
• British Land on the formation of a 50:50 joint venture partnership for the freehold interest in its Meadowhall Shopping Centre near Sheffield. London and Stamford Property Limited and its joint venture partner will acquire a 50% stake in Meadowhall for £587.7 million.
• Praesepe plc, f/k/a Aldgate Capital plc, in its $50 million acquisition of the Shipley Amusements group of companies and related debt financing provided by Barclays Bank plc. In connection with the acquisition, Praesepe plc placed up to $75.9 million New Ordinary Shares in an institutional placing, placement agent Numis Securities Limited.
• Excalibur Group Holdings Limited, an international investment house specializing in medical sciences and an offshoot of Merlin Biosciences, in connection with its stock-for-stock acquisition of Merchant Ventures Investment Limited.
• Inflexion Private Equity Limited in connection with the management buyout of Pims Group Limited, a company that specializes in submersible pumps and conventional and package systems in the United Kingdom.
• Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation plc (ENRC) on its primary listing on the Main Market of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange and related US$3 billion global offer by Deutsche Bank, as sole global coordinator, sponsor, and joint bookrunner, and Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and ABN AMRO Rothschild, as joint bookrunners.
• Inspicio Plc in its acquisition of Scientifics Limited.

 

*Some of these representations occurred prior to Will’s association with Gibson Dunn.

Capabilities

• Mergers and Acquisitions

Credentials

Education:

• BPP Law School - 2006 Legal Practice Course
• BPP Law School - 2005 Graduate Diploma in Law
• University of Edinburgh - 2004 Master of Arts

Admissions:

• England & Wales - Solicitor