Matthew Kichenside

Matthew advises management teams on buy-outs and associated equity incentive arrangements.

• Advised the senior management of Parmenion on their incentive arrangements following the acquisition by Preservation Capital Partners from Standard Life Aberdeen plc.
• Advised the senior management team of px Group on their incentive arrangements following the acquisition by a consortium of funds managed by Aksiom Group and Ara Partners.
• Advised the senior management team of Optegra Eye Healthcare on their incentive arrangements following the acquisition by funds managed and advised by H2 Equity Partners.
• Advised the management team of insurance broker A-Plan on the £270 million sale by Equistone to, and new equity incentive arrangements with, Hg Capital.
• Advised the management team of media intelligence business Gorkana on the £200 million sale by Exponent to, and new equity incentive arrangements with, Cision (a portfolio company of GTCR).
• Advised the management team of homebuilder Keepmoat on both the sale and new equity terms on TDR and Sun Capital’s £400 million acquisition.
• Advised management on the acquisition by Brockfield Partners of Center Parcs UK from Blackstone.

Matthew advises senior executives on equity incentivisation in acquisitions, disposals, and refinancing transactions across private equity-backed businesses and multinational companies.

• Advised the senior management of Reed & Mackay on their incentive arrangements following the acquisition by US VC-backed TripActions Inc from Inflexion Private Equity.
• Advised the senior management team of the Financial & Risk business of Thompson Reuters on their equity incentive arrangements following the acquisition of a majority interest by Blackstone.
• Advised the management team of Belron (Autoglass) on their equity incentive arrangements following the acquisition of a minority interest by Clayton Dubilier & Rice from D’Ieteren.
• Advised James Daunt and other senior managers of Waterstones on the disposal of a majority stake to Elliott Advisers by Lynwood Investments.
• Advised the management of BC Partners refinancing of Mergermarket including the acquisition of a 30% stake by GIC for £208 million.
• Advised the management of Flint Group on their equity incentivisation arrangements following its acquisition from CVC by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and Koch Equity Development in a transaction valuing the company at more than €2.2 billion.
• Advised the management team of roadside recovery group RAC on the acquisition by GIC of a strategic stake alongside The Carlyle Group in a transaction valuing the group at over £2 billion.
• Acted for the management of Scandinavian payment infrastructure business Nets Holdings on their equity terms following the $3.1 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Bain Capital and Advent.
• Advised management on the acquisition of David Lloyd Leisure by TDR Capital.

Matthew advises incoming executives on joining portfolio companies, structuring appointments, and negotiating equity incentive terms.

• Advised the incoming CEO of PizzaExpress (a portfolio company of a consortium led by Bain Capital Credit) on their appointment and equity incentivisation terms.
• Advised Chris Jansen and Michael Uzielli on their executive appointments to Kantar, a portfolio company of Bain Capital including their equity incentivisation terms.
• Advised the incoming CEO of TK Elevator (a portfolio company of a consortium led by Cinven and Advent, and formerly part of Thyssenkrupp GmbH) on his appointed and equity terms.
• Advised two senior executives on their appointments to portfolio companies of funds managed and advised by Providence Equity Partners.

Recognised by The Legal 500 Corporate and Commercial: venture capital 2025-2026