Advising Inspired plc on £183.6m take-private by HGGC

We have advised longstanding client Inspired plc on its acquisition by US private equity firm HGGC, via a recommended takeover offer valued at £183.6 million.

The transaction represents a new chapter for Inspired, a leading energy advisory and sustainability services provider, reflecting its continued growth and strategic appeal to international investors.

We have acted for Inspired since its admission to AIM in 2011, supporting the company through its growth journey by advising on 18 acquisitions, raising equity and debt finance and executive management succession processes.

In this transaction, we advised Inspired on the dual-track process of defending an unsolicited approach from activist shareholder Regent Gas, while simultaneously negotiating the recommended offer from HGGC. The deal was delivered in collaboration with investment bank Evercore and international law firm Ashurst LLP. We continue to advise Inspired’s management team as the company enters its next phase of development under private ownership.

Our corporate team on the transaction was led by partners Paul Jefferson, Paul Cliff and Sam Meiklejohn, supported by senior associate Darryl Chew, associate Hannah Hogarth and solicitors Zhuo Li and Paige Richardson.

Paul Jefferson said: “It has been a genuine pleasure advising Mark and the Inspired team on this process and throughout the client relationship. It is always our aspiration to develop a relationship as a trusted advisor for clients and work with them through the various stages of their growth journey. That has definitely been the case with Inspired, where we have acted since its initial IPO in 2011. We are delighted to have helped the company successfully navigate its way through this 'twin' process and look forward to working with the management team as we head into a new and exciting phase.”

Sam Meiklejohn added: “We are thrilled to have advised Inspired on this highly nuanced transaction involving multiple stakeholders and a parallel defence strategy, which required deep capital markets knowledge and a trusted advisory relationship. It’s a great example of how we help ambitious businesses manage high-stakes transactions and position themselves for long-term success. The deal demonstrates Gateley’s ability to deliver sophisticated public M&A advice and support clients through strategic transitions, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Inspired on the next chapter under private ownership.”