Professionals: DAC Beachcroft, Walker Morris, Maven Capital Partners

LEGAL firm DAC Beachcroft has secured £10m t enable trampoline parks operator Oxygen Freejumping to expand.

A DAC Beachcroft team advised Oxygen Freejumping on the fundraising that will see the company open 30 parks within the next two years.

The team advised in respect of an £8m debt facility from Beechbrook Capital along with a further £2m equity investment from Oxygen Freejumping’s existing shareholders.

Oxygen Freejumping’s management team includes Fred Turok, the founder of LA Fitness, David Stalker, the former ukactive boss, and Steve Philpott, ex-managing director of David Lloyd Leisure. They opened their first park in West Acton last summer followed by another in Southampton in December.

DAC Beachcroft corporate partner James Reed, who led the team advising on the finance package, said: “We are delighted to have advised Oxygen Freejumping on this financing round, which will help this already thriving business to continue its rapid expansion. We look forward to working with the company again in the future.”
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SPORTS lawyers at Walker Morris advised on the transfer of ownership at Bolton Wanderers.

The Walker Morris Sports Group, led by David Hinchliffe, advised on the acquisition which saw Ken Anderson will become chairman of the club and Dean Holdsworth will become CEO.

Eddie Davies, who joined the board of directors at Bolton Wanderers in 1999 before then becoming majority shareholder in 2003, will become honorary president of the club.

The deal is the second of its nature in three months for the Walker Morris team, having completed on the investment by US businessmen Josh Harris and David Blitzer in Crystal Palace in December 2015.

Walker Morris advised Ken Anderson’s purchasing vehicle and fielded a multidisciplinary team of lawyers including David Hinchliffe, Katie Reed and Ben Proctor.

Ken Anderson commented:”The announcement is fantastic news for everyone involved with the club. It brings the last few months of uncertainty to a close and allows us to focus on bringing stability to the club and building for the future.”

David Hinchliffe, Head of the Sports team at Walker Morris commented: “We’re delighted for everyone involved with the club both on and off the pitch.

“The investment from the purchasers will provide a solid financial platform on which to build their future growth plans and to fulfil their aspirations to return to the Premier League. Today’s news will be a relief to the thousands of loyal fans whose commitment to the club throughout this period has been exemplary.”

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INVESTMENT director Stuart Nichol has joined Maven Capital Partners.

He will be based out of their London office.

Bill Nixon, managing partner of Maven Capital Partners said: “We are continually looking to develop our VCT investment capability, and are delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart to our investment team.

“Stuart brings the quality and wealth of experience necessary to complement our existing team. We are very familiar with his work and strong reputation in this field and welcome him to Maven, where we are confident that he will further enhance our VCT business.”