John Newton
Partner
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:
- 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 Capital on:
- 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
- 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 TPG Growth on its investment into Musixmatch, a leading global music data platform
- 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
Notable transactions in which John has been involved prior to joining the firm include:
- Acting for Bridgepoint Capital and ERM, the environmental consultancy firm, on the US$950 million disposal of ERM to Charterhouse
- Acting for TowerBrook Capital Partners on its acquisition of Phase Eight, the UK fashion retailer
- Acting for General Electric in respect of a number of acquisitions and disposals, in particular in respect of GE’s aviation and financial services businesses
- Acting for Advent International in respect of the acquisition of Equiniti, the shareholder services and payments administration business, from Lloyds TSB Bank plc
Publications
- Quoted, “Eye on the Prize – UK Players Focus on Opportunities After Rough Year,” Real Deals (November 16, 2022)
- Quoted, “Private Markets Assess the Impact of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine,” Citywire (March 9, 2022)
- Quoted, “How PE navigated three crises,” Real Deals (January 27, 2022)
- Quoted, “Private Equity Trendspotter: European sponsors take a breather as challenging M&A environment cools 2019 dealmaking,” Mergermarket (December 20, 2019)
- Quoted, “A record year as private equity ends decade on high note,” Private Equity News (December 16, 2019)
- Profiled, “Rising stars: the next generation of City private equity talent,” Legal Week (November 19, 2018)
- “Challenging Insolvency – How the recent insolvency cases of Lehman Brothers and Woolworths could affect private equity,” European Venture Capital & Private Equity Journal (December / January, 2010)
- “PIPE investments in UK listed companies – an equity raising alternative," Capital Markets Law Journal (December 4, 2009)
- “PIPE Realities,” Acquisitions Monthly (April 2009)
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).Education
- LPC, College of Law, London, 2000
- LLB (Law), King's College London, 1999
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- England and Wales, Solicitor, 2003
Awards
- Legal Week Private Equity Rising Star (2018)
- Legal 500 UK (2016-2018, 2022)
- Super Lawyers: Mergers & Acquisitions (2013-2015)
- Chambers UK - Corporate/M&A: High-end capability, “Star Associate” (2013-2015)
- Chambers UK - Corporate/M&A: High-end capability, “Associate to watch” (2012)