David Holdsworth
M +44 77 8633 7196

Overview
David has 'deep legal knowledge' and is 'highly solution-minded and entrepreneurial' - Chambers & PartnersDavid is a corporate partner in our London office. His practice focusses on complex mergers and acquisitions, including private equity, public and private M&A and joint ventures. David is listed as a leading lawyer in Chambers UK (2022) for Private Equity: Buyouts and is recognised as ‘Highly Regarded’ by IFLR1000 (2022) for Private Equity; Mergers & Acquisitions.
Experience
Representative Matters
David’s representative matters prior to and since joining Kirkland include:
- Allwyn AG, Europe’s leading lottery operator, on the acquisition of Camelot UK Lotteries Limited
- Further Global Capital Management on its investment in Phaidon International
- RLDatix on its acquisition of Galen Healthcare Solutions
- G.S. Precision, a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners, on the acquisition of F.T. Gearing Systems
- Kofax on the recommended all cash acquisition of Tungsten Corporation plc
- Thoma Bravo on its strategic growth investment in Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, the global leader in cardiovascular imaging solutions
- Medallia, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, on its acquisition of Thunderhead, an enterprise technology provider
- Apex on the c. £1.51 billion recommended all cash acquisition of Sanne Group plc
- Cushman & Wakefield on the launch of an underwritten public offering of 12,500,000 ordinary shares
- Cobham on the c. £2.57 billion recommended all cash acquisition of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc
- Pamplona Capital Management on the acquisition of Pelsis, a global manufacturer and distributor of pest control products
- Patient Square Capital on its investment in Apollo Therapeutics, a portfolio-based biopharmaceutical company
- SK Capital on the c. $2 billion sale of Perimeter Solutions to EverArc Holdings Ltd.
- SK Capital on the formation of a consortium with Heubach Group and the subsequent acquisition of Clariant's Pigments business
- E2Open on the $1.7 billion acquisition of BluJay Solutions, a leading international cloud-based, logistics execution platform
- Thoma Bravo-backed IDS on the acquisition of and combination with White Clarke Group
- TDR Capital on the c. £563 million recommended offer for Arrow Global Group plc
- TDR Capital on the acquisition of BPP, a global leader in professional and vocational education
- TA Associates and the consortium vehicle on the $2 billion acquisition of Unit4, a global leader in enterprise cloud software
- HGGC on the sale of a majority stake in Davies, a leading specialist professional services and technology business serving the global insurance market
- I Squared and TDR Capital on the £2.322 billion recommended cash acquisition of Aggreko, a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services
- HPS Investment Partners on its investment into the UK wealth management division of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.
- Pinnacle Renewable Energy, the Toronto-listed entity, on its $652 million acquisition by Drax Group plc
- EQT on its additional substantial investment and renewed long-term commitment in IVC Evidensia
- Blackstone and Brown Bidco Limited on the $4.73 billion recommended take private of Signature Aviation, the world’s largest fixed base operation network for business & general aviation travellers
- Flexpoint Ford LLC on its recommended cash acquisition of AFH Financial Group Plc, a financial planning-led wealth management firm
- Pamplona Capital Management on the acquisition of Signature Foods, a chilled food company, from IK Investment Partners
- HGGC on its agreement to acquire Specialist Risk Group, a specialist insurance broker
- TDR Capital on various matters relating to the acquisition by TDR and the Issa brothers of Asda Group Limited from Walmart, for an enterprise value of £6.8 billion
- SK Capital on the acquisition of a stake in Venator Materials PLC from Huntsman Corporation
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MRI Software on the recommended cash acquisition of Castleton Technology PLC
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TDR Capital, as controlling stockholder of WillScot Corporation, on the $6.6 billion combination of WillScot and Mobile Mini, Inc.
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Thoma Bravo on the £3.1 billion recommended cash offer for Sophos, a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity solutions
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TDR Capital and its portfolio company, Stonegate Pub Company, on the £1.27 billion recommended cash offer for Ei Group
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Blackstone on the recommended £4.77 billion cash offer for Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based, family entertainment
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An EQT-led consortium on the CHF 10.2 billion exclusive negotiations to acquire Nestlé Skin Health, a leading global skincare company
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Canaccord Genuity on its acquisition of Thomas Miller Wealth Management, the UK-based wealth management business of Thomas Miller Investments, and its Isle of Man private client wealth management business
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TDR Capital on its acquisition of NKD, a German retailer of textile, fashion products and other accessories, from OpCapita
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Blackstone on its €3 billion public bid for Hispania, the Spanish property company, and the prior stake-building of 16.56% of the company from Soros
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Blackstone on its public bid for Taliesin Property Fund
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TDR Capital on numerous matters including its acquisitions of Buffalo Grill, EFR, Hurtigruten, IMO Group, David Lloyd Leisure, Lowell Group and Stonegate; its investment into Euro Garages, valuing the business at £1.3bn; and its disposals of Keepmoat’s regeneration business, Lowell Group, Gondola Holdings plc and VPS Europe
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A consortium comprising TDR Capital, PGGM, ATP, GIC and ADIA on the €3.7bn acquisition of LeasePlan, the Dutch vehicle management company, from Volkswagen and the Dutch company Fleet Investments
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Goldman Sachs, Park Square and NGA Human Resources on the sale of NGA UK to Bain Capital Private Equity
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Mead Johnson Nutrition in its $17.9 billion public acquisition by Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
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Golden Gate Capital, Francisco Partners and other stakeholders on the £1.6bn reverse takeover of Micro Focus plc, involving the contribution of their portfolio company Attachmate to Micro Focus plc in consideration for a 40% stake
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SMBC on the $2bn acquisition of GE’s sponsor finance business in Europe
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LIXIL Corporation on its $3bn acquisition of GROHE
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ORIX Corporation on its €2bn acquisition of Robeco from Rabobank
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Dentsu Inc on its £3.2bn recommended acquisition of Aegis Group plc
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Brother Industries on its £1.07bn public acquisition of Domino Printing Sciences
Prior Experience
Linklaters LLP
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales
Education
- University of EdinburghLL.B.