Wragge & Co LLP Corporate group has advised E.ON UK plc on acquiring a 60% share of Lighting for Staffordshire Holdings Limited (LFSH) from ABB Holdings Limited and the UK public lighting connections and maintenance business of ABB Limited. The transaction has enabled E.ON UK to expand its activities in the street lighting market.

LFSH is the sole shareholder of Lighting for Staffordshire Limited. The company was created to run Staffordshire County Council's 25-year PFI contract to finance, design, install and maintain the street lighting and illuminated traffic signage in Staffordshire.

Corporate director Andrew Glaze led the team with assistance from solicitor Ben Ward. Solicitor Georgina Spearing provided specialist PFI advice. The Wragge & Co team worked closely with Greg Dunn, in-house legal counsel and Alan Bevan, head of mergers and acquisitions at E.ON UK. Taylor Wessing advised the seller.

Andrew Glaze said: "We have a strong track record advising clients in the energy sector on corporate transactions and major projects. This is an important acquisition for E.ON UK, offering an excellent platform for developing its street lighting capabilities. Mid-market expertise and a long-standing relationship with the client made us the ideal choice for this instruction."

ABB Limited provides energy-related products, systems and services for utility and industry customers, including LFSH. The company is the subcontractor under Staffordshire County Council's 25-year PFI contact. Addleshaw Goddard advised Staffordshire County Council. DLA Piper advised the Bank of Scotland on pre-existing facilities agreements.

E.ON UK plc is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, generating and distributing electricity and retailing power and gas. It is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company.

Wragge & Co's cross-firm Energy team has previously advised E.ON UK on a variety of transactions, including the construction of its 1200 MW power station on the Isle of Grain, its Robin Rigg wind farm in the Solway Firth and three long-term agreements for the purchase of renewable electricity.

The firm's 70-lawyer Corporate group is supported by specialists in banking, pensions, employment, real estate and tax, ensuring full-service advice and support for every deal. Latest deals include advising Spectris plc subsidiary company HBM on its acquisition of US-based nCode International and FTSE-listed Hill & Smith Holdings PLC on the €23.7 million acquisition of a minority holding in Zinkinvent GmbH. In the energy sector, the Corporate group acted for BP on a US$400 million biofuels investment deal with Associated British Foods and DuPont and advised Welsh Power Group on its acquisition of the Redditch power plant in Worcestershire.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785 or Rebecca Davies on +44 (0)121 685 3819

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.