A multi-disciplinary Dinsmore team advised Symera on complex fund formation, capital raise, financing and acquisition structure supporting CIS Security’s next phase of growth
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP served as lead U.S. transaction counsel to Symera Partners LLC (“Symera”) in connection with Symera’s recently announced acquisition of CIS Security Limited (“CIS”), the UK’s largest independent security specialist, in partnership with CIS’s management team.
The transaction, announced September 22, 2026, combined the formation of a special purpose investment fund, a significant capital raise from investors, acquisition debt financing and the cross-border acquisition of CIS, a family-owned business founded nearly 60 years ago by the Palmer family. The deal allows the Palmer family to retire from ownership while CIS retains its independence under continued leadership from its CEO and the company’s existing senior leadership team.
“This was a sophisticated cross-border transaction with a number of closely interconnected components,” said Chris Hammond, the Dinsmore partner who led the deal team. “Bringing all of those elements together required close coordination between Symera, the Dinsmore team, and the other advisers involved. Symera brought a clear vision, a highly collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to the transaction throughout the process, and we were proud to help the team bring it to a successful closing.”
Dinsmore’s role spanned the full range of workstreams behind the deal. The team advised on structuring inbound investment in U.S. dollars while addressing the foreign exchange and hedging considerations tied to an acquisition denominated in British pounds and implemented multiple classes of equity to support the transaction. To provide strategic flexibility and support the parties’ tax planning objectives, the Dinsmore team helped develop a tailored TopCo, MidCo and BidCo holding structure that facilitated the investment and acquisition mechanics.
Throughout the engagement, Dinsmore coordinated the fund, securities, financing, equity and acquisition components on Symera’s behalf through closing.
The core Dinsmore deal team included:
- Chris Hammond, lead transaction counsel
- David Lavan, who advised on fund formation, securities and Investment Company Act matters
- Madison Rittley, who worked on the acquisition
- Elena Shepherd, who worked on fund formation and related matters