ByrneWallace advises European fund on $7m investment in Nuritas

ByrneWallace LLP has advised the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) on its recent investment of $7 million in Nuritas, a Dublin-based biotechnology company revolutionizing the discovery and development of plant-based bioactive peptides.

The investment forms part of Nuritas’ $45 million Series B funding round and brings to $75 million the total amount raised by the company as it eyes global expansion.

The ECBF is an impact fund initiated by the European Union in the field of bioeconomy and circular economy. The venture capital company invests in visionary European entrepreneurs who are driving the shift from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy.

The ByrneWallace LLP team who advised on this transaction included Colin Sainsbury, partner and head of the firm’s life sciences group; Catherine Dowling, partner in the corporate and life sciences teams; and Daniel Holohan, partner in the corporate team.

Eversheds Sutherland acts for Hartenberg Capital in agreement for co-controlling holding in FutureLife

Eversheds Sutherland has acted for Hartenberg Capital on its minority stake divestiture and agreement (subject to regulatory approvals) with CVC Capital Partners for a co-controlling holding in FutureLife, a leading pan-European IVF provider.

Both Hartenberg Capital and FutureLife are based in Prague, and the Eversheds Sutherland team was co-led by Michal Hrabovský in the firm’s Prague office and Gavin O’Flaherty, a member of the firm’s healthcare M&A and private equity team in Dublin.

The firm deployed its cross-jurisdictional expertise because of FutureLife’s presence across eight European markets including Czechia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom, Romania, Slovakia and Estonia.

Mr O’Flaherty said: “This exciting, multi-jurisdictional transaction was a suitable way to finish off the year for our collective Eversheds Sutherland corporate team after such a strong year of private equity deal activity which also built on our ongoing pursuit of sectoral expertise including in the healthcare M&A and fertility sectors where we have historically acted for clients such as Virtus Healthcare.

“This sectoral expertise will be of all the more importance for discerning investors and buyers into the future.”

The large multi-jurisdictional team working on the transaction included Irish lawyers Sophie Dudley, Conor Bell, Michael Twomey, Sophie Delaney, Michelle Stewart and David McKeating.

LK Shields advises Sure Valley Ventures on investment in Cameramatics

LK Shields Solicitors LLP has acted for long-standing client Sure Valley Ventures in connection with its participation in the investment round of MySafeDrive Limited t/a Cameramatics.

Sure Valley Ventures is an entrepreneur led venture capital fund focused on helping software entrepreneurs grow and scale businesses that will have a global impact.

Partner Emmet Scully and senior associate Lester Sosa-Villatoro in the firm’s corporate department assisted in the transaction.

DWF and HBMO Solicitors advise Reflex on acquisition of Macfarlanes Labels

DWF and HBMO Solicitors LLP have assisted English law firm Freeths in advising The Reflex Group Limited on its acquisition of Scottish company Macfarlane Labels Limited and its subsidiaries in Sweden and Ireland.

Ayrshire-based Macfarlane Labels employs over 100 people and has an annual turnover of more than £15 million. It is now part of Reflex, the UK’s largest label producer.

Freeths and Reflex were assisted throughout the deal by DWF and HBMO Solicitors LLP in Ireland, Burness Paull LLP in Scotland and Magnusson Law in Sweden.