16/05/2011

William joined Savigny Partners in 2006. William comes from an investment banking background, having spent nine years in UBS Warburg’s corporate finance department. In 1999 he set up UBS Warburg’s global luxury goods team and led it until his departure at the end of 2002.
During his three years as head of luxury goods investment banking William was involved in a number of mandates, notably:

• The sale of Jaeger-Lecoultre, IWC Schaffhausen and Lange & Söehne to Richemont for CHF3.2bn in 2000
• Advising Gucci on the corporate governance and valuation issues surrounding its 1999 capital increase to PPR in the context of its litigation with LVMH in 2001
• The sale of Dorotheum, the world’s 6th largest auction house, to a consortium of investors in 2001
• The IPO of Burberry in 2002
• The placing of Goldman Sachs equity stake in Ralph Lauren in 2002
• Advising Selfridges on the market-related aspects of the redevelopment of their Oxford Street site in 2000

In addition to leading the luxury goods investment banking team, William was a Director in UBS Warburg’s global retail sector team and was involved in a number of mandates spanning the retail sector, namely advising Sainsbury’s on its strategic options including the sale of Homebase in 2000 and the sale of GB Supermarkets (Belgium’s #2 food retailer) to Carrefour in 2000.

After leaving UBS Warburg, William set up his own consultancy in 2004, focusing on emerging luxury and specialty retail brands, and worked on strategic advice and capital raising mandates for a number of brands, including fashion houses Fake London and Hardy Amies, and wellbeing brand and spa operator Calmia.

William holds a First Class Honours degree in Business Studies and Law from the University of Edinburgh.