Matthew Hamilton Foyn

Matthew Hamilton-Foyn

Partner

Email

matthew.hamilton-foyn@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 2152

Offices

London

V-CARD
Matt advises on a range of corporate finance transactions, in particular public takeovers, private acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures and strategic investments.
 Matt has particular expertise in UK public takeovers and was seconded to the UK Takeover Panel between 2014 and 2016. During his time at the Panel, Matthew regulated a large number of takeovers, investigations and other transactions governed by the UK Takeover Code and was also involved in formulating Panel policy and regulatory strategy. 
 
His recent experience includes advising Bridgepoint on its £626m offer for Alpha FMC, Network International on a competitive £2.2bn cash and partial share offer from Brookfield, OpenText Corporation on its £5.1bn takeover of Micro Focus, Liberty Global, Telefónica and Virgin Media O2 on a fibre network infrastructure joint venture with InfraVia Capital Partners, Castore on its £150m fundraising from Raine Group, Felix Capital and Hanaco Ventures, and Liberty Global on the £31bn merger of Virgin Media and O2. 
Matt was recognised by MergerLinks as a Rising Star in UK listed company M&A in 2022. 

Experience

Representative matters

OpenText on its USD6bn takeover of Micro Focus.

A group of telecommunications companies on a fibre network infrastructure joint venture with InfraVia Capital Partners.

Apollo on its possible offer for FTSE 100 education company Pearson and Transdigm on its possible offer for FTSE 100 aerospace and defence company Meggitt.

A multinational telecommunications company on the GBP31bn merger of Virgin Media and O2.

Transdigm on its possible takeover offer for FTSE 100 aerospace & defence company Meggitt.

Williams Grand Prix Engineering on the sale of Williams Advanced Engineering to Fortescue Future Industries.

Sony Music Entertainment on its acquisition of audio and visual content group Somethin' Else.

The lenders to Garda World Security on its hostile £3bn takeover offer for G4S.

A global retail company on the sale of its business in Poland to Salling Group.

Cobham on its recommended £4bn takeover by Advent.

Consort Medical on its recommended £505m takeover by Recipharm.

Pennon on the sale of its Viridor business to KKR for £3.7bn.
 

Published Work

  • "European Takeovers: The Art of the Acquisition", United Kingdom chapter, 3rd Edition, Globe Law and Business (2022)
  • “European Takeovers: The Art of the Acquisition”, United Kingdom chapter (co-authored with Simon Jay), 2nd Edition, Globe Law and Business  (2018)
     

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, Hostile and Contested Bids, City Code on Takeovers and Mergers Conference, Royal Garden Hotel, London, 27/09/2018

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a Solicitor, England and Wales, 2013

Academic

LLB (Hons) (1st), Law, College of Law, Moorgate, 2011 BSc (Hons) (1st),

Psychology, University College London, 2009

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.