John Newton’s practice is focused on private equity transactions and M&A. John works on the full range of international PE transactions, including buyouts, minority investments and exits. He also has broad experience in public and private M&A, venture capital, public market listings, and general corporate law.

John frequently represents leading PE sponsors and corporates on some of their largest and most complex transactions. He acts on transactions across sectors, with a focus on healthcare and life sciences and TMT transactions.

He has been recognised as a leading private equity and M&A lawyer by numerous publications, including Legal 500, Chambers and Super Lawyers. Legal 500 (2022) states that John “wins praise from clients for his expertise in the healthcare sector”. In 2020, John was ranked in MergerMarket's Individual UK M&A league table for volume of transactions that year. He is also currently the co-author of The Legal 500’s annual UK Guide to Private Equity.

Experience

  • Representing Partners Group on:
    • on the agreement to invest in Exus, a leading European infrastructure asset management firm focused on the renewable energy sector. Partners Group plans to commit up to EUR 1 billion in growth capital
    • its investment in Sterling Pharma Solutions, a global CDMO, and co-shareholder arrangements with GHO Capital
    • the €1.6 billion acquisition of Pharmathen, a European pharmaceutical company, from BC Partners
    • the acquisition of Rovensa, a leading Portuguese-headquartered agricultural products business, and joint venture arrangements with Bridgepoint
    • multiple co-investment and secondaries transactions
  • Representing TPG on:
    • TPG’s Rise Fund
      • the acquisition of a majority investment in Outcomes First Group, a UK-based education business
    • TPG Capital
      • the sale of its joint venture stake in Denmark’s Saxo Bank to Geely, a Chinese corporate, and Sampo, a Finnish insurance company
      • the acquisition of PhysIOL Group SA, a Belgian medical devices company, by its portfolio company BVI Medical
      • the acquisition of Malosa Medical, a UK-based medical devices company, by its portfolio company BVI Medical
      • the acquisition of Vitreq, acquisition of Vitreq, a Netherlands-based medical devices company, by its portfolio company BVI Medical
      • the acquisition of a majority stake in Poundworld
      • the sale of WellSky International by its portfolio company WellSky Corporation
      • the acquisition of FilmTech startup, We Got POP, by its portfolio company Entertainment Partners
    • TPG Growth 
      • its investment into Musixmatch, a leading global music data platform
      • the acquisition of Goal (FootballCo) from the DAZN Group by TPG digital media platform Integrated Media Company
      • the acquisition of Kooora by its portfolio company FootballCo
  • Representing Bain Capital on its acquisition of NGA UK, a UK payroll and HR Business from NGA Human Resources
  • Representing GHO Capital Partners on the acquisition of Envision Pharma Group, a pharmaceutical services company
  • Representing 3i Group plc:
    • on its investment in Digital Barriers, a leading provider of digital surveillance and security products
    • on the acquisition of Audley Travel, a provider of tailor-made experiential holidays
    • on its investment in MPM, an international leader in branded, premium, natural pet food
  • Representing ERM, the world’s largest sustainability consultancy, and the ERM Partner shareholders, on the $2.7billion sale of ERM to KKR
  • Representing Nordic Capital:
    • on equity investment and joint venture arrangements relating to the acquisition of ERT, a leading data and technology company in the clinical trials sector
    • raising LP co-investment on multiple acquisitions, including Alloheim and Trustly
  • Representing Genstar Capital and on the acquisition of CRF Health, a leading provider of eCOA solutions for the life sciences industry, by its portfolio company Bracket
  • Representing Duke Street Capital on its acquisition of Great Rail Journeys, the world’s leading provider of escorted rail holidays
  • Representing Silverfleet Capital on the acquisition of Riviera Travel, a leading specialist holiday operator
  • Representing Summit Partners:
    • on the sale of Actix International Limited to Amdocs Limited
    • the joint venture with FleetCor to acquire UK-based Masternaut

Life Sciences M&A

  • Advised NeoGenomics, Inc. on its acquisition of Inivata Ltd, a global, commercial stage liquid biopsy platform company, headquartered in Cambridge, UK
  • Advised NeoGenomics Inc. in a strategic collaboration with Inivata for the commercialization of a liquid biopsy test in the United States

Co-investments

  • Represented a range of PE funds, including Partners Group, Ardian, Crescent Capital and EBRD, on multiple co-investment transactions

Areas of Practice

    Disclaimer

    Ropes & Gray International LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in Delaware, United States of America and is a recognised body regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (with registered number 521000).