Douglas McNeill
Director

Douglas McNeill is an experienced corporate financier who has advised on publicly-announced transactions worth over two billion dollars in fourteen different industries and ten different countries. His past clients range from some of Europe's biggest corporations, such as Kvaerner and KLM, to some of its most promising SMEs, like Exchequer Software.

Douglas learnt his craft at major investment banks - Barings, Barclays de Zoete Wedd, and ABN Amro - before following his entrepreneurial instincts by joining Shield shortly after its formation. He is a director of the firm, using his extensive experience in advising senior management teams to contribute to its boardroom debates. He is an expert in company valuation, regulatory and legal issues and M&A tactics, and his thoughts have been published by titles ranging from the Financial Times to Mortgage Strategy.

Transaction experience includes:

Shield's sale of Exchequer Software to Iris: Read case study
Shield's negotiation of the MBO of Regency Mortgage Corporation
Sale of ENI's polyurethanes division to Dow Chemical
Acquisition of Polimeri Europa by ENI from Union Carbide
Defence of MMT Computing plc against hostile bid approach
Acquisition of minority interests in Tractebel S.A. by Suez S.A.
Strategic review of Ferrovie dello Stato's bus interests
Sale of 20% stake in Venice Airport by Nordest Avio Srl
Schiphol Group's bid for Aeroporti di Roma
Strategic alliance between KLM and Alitalia
Sale of Kvaerner Ships Equipment by Kvaerner Group
Bid for Boosey & Hawkes plc by Graphite Capital
Undisclosed work on behalf of ABN Amro Private Equity, Casino S.A. and General Motors

Education & interests

Douglas is a graduate of Oxford, Edinburgh and Johns Hopkins universities. He is involved with several community organisations, including the Church of Scotland, Covent Garden - where he is a past chairman of the congregational board and now heads a £90,000 fundraising drive - and the National Childbirth Trust. Douglas is married with two children, and is fluent in Italian.