Matthew Appleton
Partner
London

Matthew Appleton
Partner
London
Contact Details
Matthew is a Corporate/M&A Partner with a particular focus on the Life Sciences and the Consumer & Retail sectors. He has significant experience advising clients on a wide variety of matters, including private M&A, joint ventures, public takeovers, restructurings and listing requirements.
Matthew has specific expertise in highly complex cross-border M&A transactions. He regularly advises clients on M&A auction processes, executing successful transactions both for sellers and for buyers.
"Pragmatic legal advice tailored to international environment with considerable industry expertise. Matthew Appleton is focusing specifically on what really matters for the business of his client far beyond legal expertise" - Legal 500 UK 2021 (M&A Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals)
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
Experience highlights
Asahi Group on its USD11.3bn acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries, the Australian arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev; its EUR7.30bn acquisition of the Central & Eastern European business of SABMiller by way of auction; and on its EUR2.55bn acquisition of Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime by way of auction.
Grünenthal on its USD922m acquisition from AstraZeneca of prescription products Nexium in Europe and Vimovo worldwide (excluding the U.S. and Japan; its acquisition of the global rights to the migraine medication, Zomig, from AstraZeneca for a total consideration of up to USD302m.
Advising a global healthcare company on various disposals of consumer healthcare products by way of auction, including its disposal to STADA of a portfolio of 15 over-the-counter consumer healthcare brands, covering multiple therapeutic areas such as cold & flu, pain and skincare and a range of product types (including medicines, food supplements, cosmetics and medical devices), across more than 40 countries.
Advising a global healthcare company on its EUR150m investment into, and strategic collaboration with, German biotech company CureVac for the research, development and commercialisation of mRNA-based vaccines and monoclonal antibodies targeting infectious diseases.
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Qualifications
Professional
Academic
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Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- Grünenthal on multiple transactions, including its USD922m acquisition of the prescription products Nexium in Europe and Vimovo worldwide (excluding the U.S. and Japan), its acquisition of the global rights to the migraine medication Zomig for a total consideration of up to USD302m, and its acquisition of the European rights (excluding Spain and the UK) to Crestor (rosuvastatin) and its associated brands for a total consideration of up to USD350 million, each from AstraZeneca.
- A global healthcare company on its EUR150m investment into, and strategic collaboration with, German biotech company CureVac for the research, development and commercialisation of mRNA-based vaccines and monoclonal antibodies targeting infectious diseases, and its subsequent collaboration with CureVac for the development of next generation mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
- A global healthcare company on various disposals of prescription and consumer healthcare products by way of auction.
- A global healthcare company on the GBP1.35bn disposal of its nutritional drinks brands, Lucozade and Ribena, to Suntory Beverage & Food, the Japanese consumer goods company.
- Life Healthcare Group Holdings on its GBP600m acquisition of Alliance Medical Group by way of auction.
- Asahi Group on its USD11.3bn acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries, its EUR7.30bn acquisition of the Central & Eastern European business of SABMiller, and its EUR2.55bn acquisition of Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime, each from AB InBev.
- A global retail company on the GBP181m sale of its Polish business to Salling Group and additional divestments of its Polish store estate.
- SSL International on its recommended public takeover by Reckitt Benckiser for GBP2.54bn.
- Tullett Prebon on its GPB1.4bn reverse takeover, carve-out acquisition of ICAP's global hybrid broking and information business and related issuance of consideration shares and readmission to the LSE.
- A leisure, travel and tourism company on its all-share merger with a division of the company and related admission to the LSE.