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 Aon plc (NYSE: AON) on its announced $13.4 billion acquisition to acquire middle-market insurance broker NPF for a combination of cash and stock.
- An ad hoc crossover group of lenders on a $1.9 billion financial restructuring of Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), which was implemented through a combined use of the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and an Irish examinership restructuring process.
- Orion Infrastructure Capital on the provision of a structured equity facility of up to $110 million to Irish registered Carbon Revolution plc (NYSE: Nasdaq: CREV).
- Heramba GmbH on its proposed business combination with Project Energy Reimagined Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: PEGR). The deal values the combined business at a pro forma implied enterprise value of approximately US$450 million. On closing, it is proposed that the new parent company of the combined business, Heramba Electric plc, will list on Nasdaq.
- Irish registered MariaDB plc on its $672 million public listing on the NYSE through a business combination with Angel Pond Holdings Corporation. (Mergers SPAC/deSPAC Deal of the Year – Finance Dublin Deals of the Year 2023).
- Irish registered, global financial technology firm, Circle Internet Financial Limited on its announced $9 billion transaction to go public on the NYSE through a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp.
- Irish registered limited partnership, ProKidney LP on its IPO and listing on Nasdaq through a business combination with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III in a deal valuing the combined entity at $2.64 billion. ProKidney is a leading clinical-stage cellular therapeutics business focused on chronic.
- The principal ad hoc group representing bond holders on a $5.3 billion debt-for-equity swap, refinancing and re-listing of Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), which was implemented through a combined use of the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and an Irish examinership restructuring process (Equity Capital Markets Restructuring Deal of the Year – Finance Dublin Deals of the Year 2023).
- Irish registered STERIS plc (NYSE: STE) on its $3.6 billion acquisition of Cantel Medical Group (NYSE: CMD) and related $1.35 billion senior notes securities’ offering.
- Irish registered, international energy services firm, Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) on its $1.15 billion public listing on Nasdaq.
- Fastball Holdings LLC on the $4.2bn sale of its stake in the FanDuel Group to Irish registered Flutter Entertainment plc (LSE: FLTR).
- Aon on its $38 billion corporate re-domiciliation from the UK to Ireland, and the listing of its new Irish registered holding company, Aon plc, on the NYSE (NYSE: AON).
- Weatherford International plc, the Irish incorporated, then NYSE listed parent of the Weatherford group, on one of the largest and most complex cross-border corporate restructurings ever undertaken by an Irish listed company. 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.
- 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.
- The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund on a secondary block trade sale of a significant percentage of its stake in Greencoat Renewables plc (LSE: GRP, Euronext; GRP).
- Cimpress on its $3.1 billion corporate re-domiciliation from The Netherlands to Ireland, and the listing of its new Irish registered holding company, Cimpress plc, on Nasdaq (Nasdaq: Cimpress).
- STERIS on its $10.5 billion corporate re-domiciliation from the UK to Ireland, and the listing of its new Irish registered holding company, STERIS plc, on the NYSE (NYSE: STE).
- 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.
- Weatherford International plc on over $7.5 billion in listed equity, debt and hybrid securities offerings.
- The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the cornerstone investor in Greencoat Renewables plc (LSE; GRP, Euronext; GRP), on the floatation of Greencoat on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin
- Worldview Capital on its hostile takeover of London and Dublin listed Petroceltic International plc (being the first successful hostile takeover of an Irish public company).
- Weatherford on its $17.2 billion corporate re-domiciliation from Switzerland to Ireland, and the listing of its new Irish registered holding company, Weatherford International plc, on the NYSE.
“Fergus provides consistent and timely advice that is practical.”
Corporate/M&A: Chambers 2024
"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
Corporate/M&A: Chambers Global
“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"
Corporate/M&A: Chambers 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".
Corporate/M&A: Chambers 2018
Clients say Fergus Bolster is "responsive, succinct and well informed".
Corporate/M&A: Chambers 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