Wragge & Co LLP Corporate group has advised Spectris plc subsidiary company HBM on its acquisition of US-based nCode International. The transaction, for an initial purchase consideration of £17.5 million, will enable HBM to strengthen its presence in North America.

HBM has acquired nCode, a global supplier of durability, test and analysis software, from a fund advised by Nova Capital Management.

Corporate director Andrew Glaze led the Wragge & Co team, supported by solicitor Michael Brunnock. Associate Andrew Maxwell provided antitrust advice and head of transaction services Graham Spalding advised on due diligence. The team worked closely with Jeremy Morcom, head of corporate development and Roger Stephens, head of commercial and company secretary at Spectris plc. They also worked alongside Carsten Bitner at Graf von Westphalen on German merger clearance.

Andrew Glaze said: "This transaction demonstrates our reputation in the mid-market as a leading corporate adviser on complex, cross-border M&A deals."

Spectris develops and markets precision instrumentation and controls. The company posted sales of £668 million in 2007 and employs around 5,500 people worldwide. Spectris is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Wragge & Co previously advised the client on its £16 million sale of the Spectris Inspection Systems business, comprising several subsidiaries of Spectris across Europe, the US and Canada, to US-based Illinois Tool Works Inc.

nCode International is a supplier of durability, test and analysis products to the automotive, off road, rail, defense and aerospace markets. US law firm O'Melveny & Mysers LLP advised Nova Capital Management.

Wragge & Co'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. It has a growing reputation for international work, with headline deals completed for Finnish, Japanese, French, Swiss and German companies. Other M&A highlights include acting for US client Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. on its takeover of UK-based BBI Holdings PLC for a total consideration of up to £83 million and advising Swedish-based Haldex on a £75 million cross-border acquisition, plus first deals for Carron Energy and Northgate Information Solutions.

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