Ferdinand Mason
Biography
Overview
Ferdinand is a seasoned partner in our global M&A and Corporate practice, based in London, with a proven track record of delivering transformative solutions for complex corporate challenges.
He provides strategic counsel to public and private companies, private equity firms, and boards on high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, sales of distressed companies and assets, joint ventures, and corporate governance. Ferdinand's expertise spans industries including energy, finance, pharmaceuticals, media, automotive, retail, technology, and manufacturing, making him a trusted advisor across diverse sectors.
Ferdinand is deeply committed to the idea that law can be a strategic enabler, going far beyond its commodified aspects to unlock the full potential of a transaction. He focuses on creating legal frameworks that align with broader commercial objectives, anticipate challenges, and support sustainable, long-term success. By combining deep legal insight with a nuanced understanding of business drivers, he helps ensure that transactions are not only legally sound but also strategically transformative.
Renowned for his innovative approach, Ferdinand designs cutting-edge corporate strategies, including safeguarding sovereign assets through tailored legal structures. He is also a leading authority on navigating complex regulatory landscapes, advising on directors' duties, disclosure obligations, and resolving contentious public shareholder matters.
With a focus on the interplay between law and strategy, Ferdinand delivers solutions that empower clients to navigate the complexities of the global business environment and achieve enduring success.
Experience
Representation of JTC plc (LON: JTC), a global provider of fund, corporate and private client services on its entry into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire South Dakota Trust Company, the leading independent provider of administration services to the US personal trust sector, for a maximum consideration of US$270 million. The completion of the acquisition will establish JTC as the leading independent provider of administration services to the US personal trust sector. SDTC provides access to over 1,700 high net worth and ultra-high net worth family clients, including more than 100 billionaires and 350 centimillionaires, based on a large intermediary network, which delivers predictable revenues.
Advising on a multi-billion strategic review of a major listed conglomerate headquartered in Malaysia.
Representation of multinational banks Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan as joint global coordinators in relation to the formation and listing of Odyssey Acquisition S.A., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Michael Zaoui and Yoël Zaoui, on the Euronext Exchange in Amsterdam. The newly formed SPAC has raised EUR 300 million to invest in healthcare and technology businesses in Europe.
Representation of JTC plc, a Jersey-based FSTE 250 global professional services business with expertise in fund, corporate and private client services, on its first equity placing since it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2018.
Representation of JTC PLC in connection with its acquisition of SALI Fund Services, a provider of fund services to the Insurance Dedicated Fund and Separately Managed Account market, with US$15.8 billion of assets under management.
Representation of Tokyo Electron in its $29 billion negotiated merger of equals combination with Applied Materials.*
Representation of TSMC in its $1 billion innovation investment in ASML.*
Representation of JTC PLC on multiple transactions involving in excess of $100 billion in assets under management primarily in the United States and Europe.*
Representation of SNS Reaal bondholders in obtaining a judgment securing €804 million in compensation from the Dutch State for the nationalization of SNS Reaal NV and SNS Bank NV on February 1, 2013.*
Representation of Global City Theatres B.V., (GCT), the largest shareholder of Cineworld Group plc (Cineworld), Regal in the U.S., as lead counsel on its debt refinancing and related capital market aspects.*
Representation of HighBrook Property Fund III and its co-investment vehicle, HighBrook III Investment B ("Highbrook"), as lead counsel, in the sale of its 100% interest in Groothandelsgebouwen (GHG B.V.), the largest multi-tenant property in the Netherlands, to Jamestown, LP, an Atlanta, Georgia based real estate investment and management company, for €289 million.*
Representation of UK headquartered, Cineworld Group PLC in connection with an asset monetization strategy in the United States involving a combined cash consideration of $556.3 million cinema sale-leaseback transactions to convert a substantial portion of Cineworld's U.S. real estate holdings into cash to leverage its equity and optimize efficiency.*
Advised a European government on an innovative international treaty and corporate based strategy to minimize risks to $25 billion of its assets as a consequence of Brexit.*
Acted as underwriters counsel in a series of successful placements of new shares in Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels listed Kiadis Pharma NV for a total of €72.6 million.*
Representation of Qatalyst Partners on the $47 billion negotiated merger between NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm.*
Representation of Global City Holdings B.V. ("GCH") in the sale of shares project companies owning properties constituting the Nova Królikarnia project in Warsaw and the loans granted by Global City Holdings B.V. to those project companies.*
Representation of L1 Retail, the retail investment arm of LetterOne, on its acquisition of Holland & Barrett, Europe's largest health and wellness retailer, from The Nature's Bounty Co. and The Carlyle Group for £1.77 billion (US$2.25 billion).*
*Matters worked on prior to joining White & Case
Cited yearly as among the best corporate/M&A lawyers in the Netherlands in the guides Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, PLC Which lawyer?, and The Legal 500 EMEA
