Matthew Ayre

Matthew Ayre

Head of Leveraged Finance

Matthew is Head of Leveraged Finance. He trained at the firm and became a partner in 2007.

Finance Practice

Matthew is highly regarded in the acquisition finance market and advises key private equity and other financial sponsors as well as corporate borrowers on the financing of their most significant acquisitions. He also advises a number of banks and other lenders and his well-balanced practice results in an insight that enables him to find commercial and workable solutions to clients' most complex issues.

Matthew also advises clients on infrastructure financings, refinancings, debt restructuring, and corporate facilities.

Selected Deals

  • Inflexion on the acquisition financings of numerous businesses including Goals Soccer Centres, Auxadi, Astrak, Sparta Global, enviolo, Marley, CMSPI, UKFast, O'Neill Patient, Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, British Engineering Services and Digital Wholesale Solutions.
  • Bridgepoint Development Capital on senior debt facilities made available to finance various acquisitions including PEI Media, Inspiring Learning Services Limited, Lumison, Blue Square Data, Dedipower, Building Automation Services, Evander, BigHand, Quotient, LOC Group, Phlex Global and Tastecard.
  • Bridgepoint on its investment in Itsu.
  • Bridgepoint on its acquisition of the administration and fiduciary services business of Appleby.
  • RSK Group on £1 billion of available facilities made available by Ares.
  • HSBC as lender on the financing of various acquisitions including CBPE Capital LLP's acquisition of a majority stake in Chas A Blatchford & Sons Holdings Limited and Epiris' acquisition from De La Rue plc of its paper business.
  • Epiris on its investment in Bonhams.
  • IK Partners on the acquisition financing for Forthglade and DA Languages.
  • Silicon Valley Bank on various financings including on its provision of senior debt facilities in relation to EMK Capital's acquisition of Luminati, Vector Capital's acquisition of Cloudsense, Battery Ventures' acquisition of the Labtech Group, and AKKR's acquisition of Kerridge Commercial Systems.
  • Basalt Infrastructure Partners on the financing of its acquisitions of Manx Telecom plc and Wightlink.
  • Caledonia Investments on the financing of the acquisition of Cooke Optics Group Limited.
  • ZPG on the financing of its acquisitions of Hometrack Data Systems Limited, the Property Software Group and uSwitch.
  • Auto Trader Group plc, the digital automotive classified advertising business, on its £400 million refinancing with debt finance provided by a syndicate of lenders.
  • McColl's Retail Group plc on the financing of its acquisition of a portfolio of 298 convenience stores from the Co-operative Group.
  • Sixth Street on the financing of Amplience.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Matthew overlays fantastic commercial sentiment with a strong understanding of the legal elements of a deal.
Chambers and Partners UK 2025
Matthew is an excellent lawyer, who is really thorough in his approach, highly knowledgeable and very commercial.
Chambers and Partners UK 2024
He gives concrete advice and understands how to position our views vis-à-vis the other side. He is a great person to have in your corner.
Chambers and Partners UK 2024

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