Harbottle & Lewis advises MAMA Group on takeover offer by HMV Group

Harbottle & Lewis advised MAMA Group plc on the recommended takeover offer that was made on Friday by HMV Group plc for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of MAMA. The offer values the company at approximately £46m. Completion of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions.

MAMA is the operator of one of the largest estates of live music venues in the UK, including the Hammersmith Apollo, The Forum in Kentish Town and the recently re-opened Garage and is also the operator of several music festivals including Lovebox, Global Gathering and Godskitchen.

The HMV takeover offer followed MAMA having received an unsolicited takeover offer from SMS Finance S.A. Harbottle & Lewis also advised MAMA on its defence in relation to this offer, which ultimately lapsed on 4 January 2010.

MAMA is a long standing client of Harbottle & Lewis. The firm has advised MAMA on numerous transactions in recent years, including the transformative live music business joint venture with HMV which itself completed last year.

The Harbottle & Lewis team was led by corporate partner Tim Parker and senior associate Charles Leveque.

Tim Parker commented: “We have a terrific relationship with MAMA, having worked closely with them over a period that has seen them rapidly evolve into a successful and high-profile independent music company which services many different aspects of the music industry. The HMV offer, should it be successful, obviously heralds a new phase of development of the MAMA team for which we wish them well.”

Dean James and Adam Driscoll, Co Chief-Executive Officers of MAMA Group, said: “Once more it was good to work with Tim and his team. Harbottle & Lewis knows our business really well, having worked with us on many transactions in the past and their specialist knowledge and experience is hugely helpful.”

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19/01/10

For further information contact Evette Elliott, Head of Marketing, on +44 (0)20 7667 5000.