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Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Macquarie Capital on its agreement to acquire a 50% stake in environmental monitoring solutions (EMS) business, EMS B&K, from Spectris plc (LSE: SXS). 

The transaction will establish a joint venture between Macquarie Capital and Spectris, a leading instrumentation and controls company headquartered in the UK, in relation to the future operation of the EMS business.

EMS B&K is a global market leader in the supply of environmental monitoring hardware and software services, including technology for measuring and managing sound and vibration, to the transport, infrastructure, mining and other industries. Its operations are headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and span Europe, US, Latin America and Asia.

The Herbert Smith Freehills corporate team was led by partner Mark Currell, who was supported by senior associate Jacob Kahwaji and solicitor Marcus Berghouse. Partner Damien Bailey led the technology aspects of the transaction with the support of senior associate Kwok Tang and solicitors Danielle McCarthy and George Psaltis.

The transaction required wide ranging specialist expertise across multiple jurisdictions, including in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, IT, intellectual property and employment.