Fergus Bolster is "strategic in his approach, very responsive and gives clear advice".
Chambers Global & Europe
Expertise
Fergus Bolster is a partner in the firm's Corporate M&A Group, where he focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, corporate re-organisations (including corporate re-domiciliation and demerger transactions), financing transactions, securities law and corporate governance matters.
Fergus has represented public and private corporations, institutional, private equity and venture investors, State bodies and investment banks, transacting in a variety of industries and sectors, including, in particular, technology, energy and healthcare. He has extensive experience advising US and other international clients on cross-border acquisitions of Irish companies, both public and private, migrations and capital markets transactions (undertaken domestically and by Irish companies listed on US and other foreign exchanges).
Fergus counsels corporate clients on a broad range of governance and business-related matters, including directors' duties and responsibilities, disclosure obligations and compliance matters. This advice is often provided to boards and individual directors in situations where the satisfaction of their fiduciary duties may be subject to public scrutiny.
Fergus has advised:
- Irish registered Circle Internet Financial Limited on its announced $9 billion transaction to go public through a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp (NYSE: CND), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (or SPAC). Upon closing of the transaction, the businesses will be combined through an Irish incorporated parent, whose ordinary shares will be listed on the NYSE.
- Finnish registered MariaDB Corporation Ab on its announced transaction to go public through a business combination with NYSE-listed SPAC, Angel Pond Holdings Corporation, in a deal which reflects a combined enterprise value of approximately $672 million. Upon closing of the transaction, the businesses will be combined through an Irish incorporated parent, whose ordinary shares will be listed on the NYSE.
- Irish registered biotech ProKidney LP on its announced transaction to go public through a business combination with Nasdaq listed SPAC, Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III in a deal valuing the combined entity at $2.64 billion. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will trade on Nasdaq.
- Irish registered STERIS plc (NYSE: STE) on its $3.6b acquisition of Cantel Medical Corp (NYSE: CMD).
- Fastball Holdings LLC on the $4.2n sale of its stake in the FanDuel Group to Flutter Entertainment plc (LSE: FLTR).
- Aon, the global consulting and professional services firm, on its corporate re-domiciliation from the UK to Ireland and the listing of the new Irish holding company, Aon plc, on the NYSE.
- Weatherford International plc, the Irish registered, NYSE listed parent of the Weatherford group of companies, on one of the largest and most complex cross-border corporate restructurings of 2019, and the largest in Irish corporate history. In a highly innovative legal structure, the transaction, which involved a $7.4 billion debt-for-equity swap and refinancing, was implemented through the first ever combined use of the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and an Irish examinership restructuring process.
- Cimpress on its corporate re-domiciliation from the Netherlands to Ireland and the listing of the new Irish holding company, Cimpress plc, on Nasdaq.
- STERIS, a leading provider of infection prevention and other procedural products and services, on its corporate re-domiciliation from the UK to Ireland and the listing of the new Irish holding company, STERIS plc, on the NYSE.
- The Irish Strategic Investment Fund, on its investment in the Irish based AMCS Group, the world’s leading supplier of integrated software and vehicle technology for the resource management, waste collection and recycling industry.
- Fidante Capital, as lead manager, on the admission of Yew Grove REIT plc to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin and its related €75 million placing of new ordinary shares.
- Zavante Therapeutics on its acquisition by Irish registered, Nasdaq listed, Nabriva Therapeutics plc.
- FireEye, Inc. on its acquisition of Clean Communications Limited.
- The Irish Strategic Investment Fund, the cornerstone investor in Greencoat Renewables plc, on the floatation of Greencoat on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin.
- Tullow Oil plc, listed on the London and Ghana Stock Exchanges and Euronext Dublin, on its £607 million rights issue of ordinary shares.
- Worldview Capital on its successful hostile takeover of Petroceltic International plc. The Matheson team won the award for Hostile Deal of the Year at the Finance Dublin Deals of the Year 2017, for its lead role on this transaction.
- Oculus VR, LLC (a subsidiary of Facebook, Inc.) on the acquisition of Irish based InfiniLED Limited.
- Weatherford, the leading wellbore and production solutions company, on its corporate re-domiciliation from Switzerland to Ireland and the listing of the new Irish holding company, Weatherford International plc, on the NYSE.
- Actavis Inc. (NYSE) on its $8.5 billion acquisition of Warner Chilcott plc (Nasdaq) and corporate re-domiciliation to Ireland.
- Royalty Pharma on its $6.5 billion hostile bid for Elan Corporation (NYSE).
"Extremely proactive and managed the deal with excellence, contributing innovative solutions in a complex transaction and demonstrating great negotiation skills."
IFLR1000 2022
Leading Lawyer - Highly Regarded for M&A
IFLR1000 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
Leading Lawyer - Highly Regarded for Capital Markets: Equity
IFLR1000 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
Leading Lawyer - 13 Year Ranked
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A
“A very strong corporate team with deep local knowledge. Standout corporate partners include Fergus Bolster…”
IFLR1000 2021
Fergus Bolster often acts on deals involving entities from the USA. Sources highlight his knowledge of public company law, and one client appreciates that he is "strategic in his approach, very responsive and gives very clear advice"
Chambers Global & Europe 2019
"Very responsive and pragmatic."
IFLR1000 2019
Recommended Capital Markets
European Legal 500 2019, 2020 and 2021
Recommended Commercial, Corporate & M&A
European Legal 500 2019, 2020 and 2021
Matheson showcased its strength in the technology sector with the “insightful” Fergus Bolster, advising Oculus VR on its acquisition of InfiniLED
Legal 500 2018
Matheson’s “proven track record in advising Irish public companies with US listings was in evidence once again, with Fergus Bolster advising Weatherford International on a $1bn registered direct offering of ordinary shares and warrants
to acquire ordinary shares”
Legal 500 2018
Fergus Bolster is "very good for general corporate advice in Ireland”. Clients appreciate his "excellent stewardship".
Chambers Global & Europe 2018
Clients say Fergus Bolster is "responsive, succinct and well informed".
Chambers Global & Europe 2017
Winner - Hostile Deal of the Year –- Worldview Capital on its successful hostile takeover of Petroceltic International plc
Finance Dublin Deals of the Year 2017