De Brauw served as Dutch counsel in the proposed cross-border merger between two listed companies.

Client name
RELX N.V.

Other parties involved
RELX PLC

Nature of transaction
On 15 February 2018, RELX NV and RELX PLC announced a further simplification of their corporate structure, moving from the current dual parent holding company structure to a single parent company. The simplification will be implemented through a cross-border legal merger between RELX NV and RELX PLC which will result in RELX PLC becoming the sole parent company of RELX Group. RELX group chose for a British nationality for the future. RELX NV shareholders will receive one RELX PLC share for each RELX NV share held. RELX PLC will continue to have a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange, and will apply for an additional listing of RELX PLC shares on Euronext Amsterdam.

Value of transaction
Approximately EUR 32 billion.

Date deal
15 February 2018

De Brauw involvement
Dutch counsel

Other advisors
UBS Investment Bank as financial advisor to RELX group, PwC, EY, Mazars as accountants., Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Simpson Thacher & Barlett

De Brauw lead partners
Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, Reinier Kleipool, Paul Sleurink,

De Brauw team
Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, Reinier Kleipool, Paul Sleurink, Casper Nagtegaal, Olga Konsek