Ben Mercer
Partner
Ben is a corporate and M&A expert, guiding clients through complex transactions with strategic insight and commercial acumen.
Partner
Ben is a corporate and M&A expert, guiding clients through complex transactions with strategic insight and commercial acumen.
Language: English
Jurisdiction: England & Wales
Ben Mercer is a corporate partner at Stephenson Harwood, specialising in private M&A, joint ventures, and capital raising. His clients range from high-net-worth individuals and owner managers to major corporate and financial institutions, particularly in the consumer, business services, and transportation sectors. Ben's extensive experience includes advising on high-profile deals such as the management buyout of the Abellio UK trains and buses business from the Dutch State and the sale of V Group, the world's largest ship management business, by Advent international to a consortium led by Star Capital.
Ben provides comprehensive support across a spectrum of corporate transactions, ensuring clients navigate the complexities of acquisitions, disposals, and mergers with confidence. His work often involves cross-border elements, where his ability to integrate strategic insight with commercial clarity is highly valued. He regularly advises on sales of owner-managed businesses to corporates or PE houses under auction processes, acting either for the owner managers or the corporate acquirors.
Clients appreciate Ben's ability to think outside the box and deliver results that align with their strategic goals. His work with leading names like RELX, Transport UK and Subsea 7 underscores his reputation as a go-to advisor for complex corporate matters, where his pragmatic approach and industry knowledge make a significant impact.
Transport UK
Advised the management team of Abellio UK on its MBO from the Dutch state, together with the new equity and incentive arrangements for the team.
Siem Industries / Subsea 7
Advised Siem Industries (the largest shareholder of Subsea7) on the merger of Subsea7 and Saipem under the EU Merger Regulation to create a global leader in energy services listed on the Milan and Oslo stock exchanges.
V Group
Advised V Group and its private equity owner Advent International in relation to V Group's sale to a consortium led by STAR Capital.
Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Advised funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ('Oaktree') on the sale of financing transactions by Fleetscape to Quantum Pacific.
Anglia Maltings
Advised Ragleth Limited, the parent organisation of Anglia Maltings (Holdings) Limited (Anglia Maltings), on its sale to Richardson Malting (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Richardson International Limited (Richardson).
Welsh Power Group
Advising on transactions including its £23 million acquisition of the 360MW Uskmouth Power Station; a £600 million fundraising to build the 850MW Severn Power CCGT power station; its joint venture with Santander to build a 50MW biomass plant; and a joint venture with Octopus Investments to build a series of sub-25MW peaking power plants.
Brockwell Energy Limited
Advising the management team of Brockwell Energy on its hive out from Hargreaves Services Plc in a deal backed by Pioneer Point Partners and Davidson Kempner, to develop an £800m portfolio of energy projects.
Nurture Landscapes Group
Advised Nurture Landscapes Group, and its shareholders, on a recent investment round. All Seas Capital, a pan-European private capital fund, has invested £57 million in the group to support its growth.
RELX Plc
Advising the FTSE 100 company on several transactions including the sale of the Farmers Weekly publishing business and the acquisitions of the Snowflake Software aviation data business and the Migacore Technologies travel analytics business.
3 Step / BNP
Advised Finnish-based 3 Step IT on its strategic partnership with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to create a leading integrated IT leasing business across various European jurisdictions.
