Macfarlanes advises NortonLifeLock on $9.2bn merger with Avast plc

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, NortonLifeLock serves over 80 million total users in more than 150 countries, including 23 million direct customers. Avast safeguards more than 435 million people worldwide, protecting their digital data, identity and privacy, with 1.5 billion attacks and over 200 million new files blocked each month on average in 2020.

The deal is expected to complete in mid-2022, subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, including NortonLifeLock and Avast shareholder approval.

The Macfarlanes team is being led by corporate and M&A partners Harry Coghill and Tom Rose.

The team also includes corporate and M&A senior counsels Mark Slade and Tim Redman, and solicitors Emma Bailey and Natasha Sellayah. Share schemes advice is being provided by partner Robert Collard, senior counsel Rasmus Berglund and senior solicitor Saba Palizi, with tax advice from partner Jeremy Moncrieff and senior solicitor Laura Foley. Additional support has been provided by lawyers across the firm, including in respect of employment, pensions, litigation and real estate aspects of the transaction.

Macfarlanes is advising on the UK legal aspects of the transaction, with Kirkland & Ellis advising on the US legal aspects.