London—Dentons has advised The Valence Group, the specialist investment bank offering M&A advisory services exclusively to companies and investors in the chemicals, materials and related sectors, on its acquisition by leading investment bank and institutional securities firm Piper Sandler Companies.

The Valence Group will form Piper Sandler’s new chemicals group. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020 and is subject to obtaining required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Guy Norfolk, UK Corporate partner at Dentons who led on the deal, said, "We have acted for The Valence Group from its founding in 2007 when Peter, Telly, Kirk and Ariel saw the gap for an M&A boutique focussed on the chemicals and related sectors. We acted for them throughout their very successful journey - theirs is the pre-eminent chemicals advisory service globally. And then, more than 12 years on, to support them through their sale process to Piper has been such a pleasure. It was a complex trans-Atlantic transaction, with our team working over the last couple of months side-by-side with the founders and across from the Piper business to get the deal signed. We look forward to its successful conclusion once regulatory approvals are in and then to the continuing success of Piper’s chemicals group under our clients’ leadership."

Peter Hall, co‐founder of The Valence Group, commented, “The entire Dentons team did a fantastic job. As always the transaction took some twists that were unpredictable but the team were responsive and committed to getting the deal over the line. The team has been part of The Valence Group journey for many years and their guidance and support was highly appreciated. We certainly couldn’t have got to signing without them."

The Dentons team in the UK, which was led by London Corporate partner Guy Norfolk, also included Corporate associates Rachael Del Riccio and Ben Havard, Corporate counsel Francesca Bettermann, Tax partner Lorna McCaa and counsel Alastair MacLeod and PRM partner Alison Weatherhead and senior associate Lisa Watson. In the US, the team included Regulatory partner Wendell Faria, Corporate partner Jane Meyer and Tax partners Timothy Santoli and Michael Maryn.

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