Ancala Partners acquires all aerial emergency service businesses from Babcock

Cuatrecasas has advised UK investment fund Ancala Partners on closing the acquisition of the Babcock International Group’s aerial emergency service businesses, taking over its rescue and firefighting infrastructure divisions in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The company has been renamed Avincis, with a portfolio of aviation services that includes medical transport, firefighting and search and rescue operations. Following the transaction, the UK investor takes control of a fleet of over 230 aircraft at over 160 operational sites in strategic locations across Europe.

The purchase of all the share capital was formalized last February, bringing to an end a complex process that began in early 2022. This project reaffirms Ancala Partners’ ability to locate and implement well-differentiated and significant international investment opportunities. The transaction also ratifies Ancala’s plans to continue its expansion process and strengthen its position in the critical aviation services sector in Iberia, Italy and the Nordic countries

The Cuatrecasas team advising Ancala Partners comprised partners Federico Roig (Corporate and M&A), Andrew Ward (Competition and EU Law) and Mari Carmen Arribillaga (Finance), together with associates Carlota Tojo and Adrián Garcia. The UK law firm Travers Smith advised on all legal matters subject to UK law, while the sellers acted under the legal counsel of Ashurst.