Wragge & Co LLP Corporate Group has advised on an M&A transaction for FTSE 250 company Spectris plc. A team led by partner Ed Dawes advised Spectris on the £16 million sale of the Spectrum Inspection Systems business, comprising several subsidiaries of Spectris across Europe, the US and Canada, to US-based Illinois Tool Works Inc.

The Wragge & Co team comprised corporate experts Andrew Glaze and Michael Brunnock. Richard Freeman, Lee McBride and Joanne Tibbott provided additional tax, real estate and pensions law advice. The team worked alongside Roger Stephens, Head of Commercial and Company Secretary, and Jeremy Morcom, Head of Corporate Development, at Spectris.

Ed Dawes said: "In addition to providing excellent, commercial advice, we make relationships our priority, which means we understand clients' businesses and their objectives. We're very pleased the Spectris relationship has evolved to see us trusted with this cross-border disposal. The deal is consistent with our reputation as a leading mid-market corporate adviser to quoted companies."

Spectris develops and markets precision instrumentation and controls. It had sales of £684 million in 2006 and employs 6,000 people worldwide in its 15 business units. Wragge & Co has previously advised Spectris on corporate and real estate matters.

Illinois Tool Works is a Fortune 200 manufacturing company employing about 50,000 in 48 countries. It was advised by Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

Wragge & Co's 17-partner national Corporate Group includes more than 60 lawyers advising on a full range of corporate finance matters. M&A, disposal and equity markets work for quoted clients in the past 12 months has included the £52 million sale of Floors-2-Go plc, Interserve plc's £116 million takeover of MacLellan Group Plc, two deals for Hyder Consulting plc and Hasgrove plc's £22 million listing on AIM.

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