Grégoire Finance

Willkie advised CVC Capital Partners on portfolio company Cooper Consumer Health’s acquisition of French nutraceutical company Lashilé Beauty. CVC Capital Partners announced on November 8 that portfolio company Cooper Consumer Health agreed to acquire Lashilé Beauty, a leading gummy dietary supplement business in France. Cooper Consumer Health is a European independent over-the-counter drug manufacturer and distributor. CVC Capital Partners, established in 1981, is a world leader in private equity and credit with $125 billion of assets under management, $165 billion of funds committed and a global network of 24 local offices. The Willkie team was led by partners Cédric Hajage, Grégoire Finance and Sebastian FitzGerald.

Nov 8

1 min

On November 16, Willkie client Lagardère Travel Retail announced that it reached an agreement to acquire Marché International AG, a multi-brand international restaurant company. Lagardère Travel Retail and Carlton Holding have signed an agreement under which Lagardère Travel Retail will acquire 100% of the shares of Marché International AG, the Swiss-based holding company of the Marché Group. As a result of the transaction, which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2023, Lagardère Travel Retail will acquire Marché's restaurant network in six countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia and Singapore. Marché is an established international catering company operating in travel and leisure venues, including airports, train and motorway stations, zoos and shopping centers. With this transaction, Lagardère Travel Retail significantly strengthens its catering operations and confirms its long-standing strategic ambition to expand in all business segments to cover the needs of lessors and travelers. The acquisition of Marché, an established and widely recognized brand worldwide, also strengthens Lagardère Travel Retail’s portfolio of in-house brands. The Willkie team was led by partner Grégoire Finance and included partners Faustine Viala, Matthias Schudlo, Anne Kleffmann and Jens-Olrik Murach.

Nov 21

1 min

A cross-border Willkie team advises Sebia on the contemplated acquisition of ORGENTEC Diagnostika, a world market leader in the diagnostic industry. On June 30, Willkie advised Sebia on its announced acquisition of specialty diagnostic leader ORGENTEC Diagnostika from Water Street Healthcare Partners. The state-of-the-art diagnostic company will provide development opportunities and expand Sebia’s capabilities in autoimmunity, infectious diseases, and clinical trials. Based in Mainz, Germany, ORGENTEC Diagnostika is a world market leader in the development, production, and marketing of diagnostic tests to detect autoimmune and blood diagnostics and treatment-associated monitoring. Clinical areas include: inflammatory rheumatic diseases, thrombosis diagnostics, blood diagnostics for the serological detection of autoimmune vasculitis, thyroid diagnostics, gastroenterology and diabetes diagnostics. Founded in 1967, Sebia is a world leading provider of clinical protein electrophoresis equipment and reagents, a technology used for in-vitro diagnostic testing. Its systems analyze proteins in order to screen and monitor various diseases and conditions; primarily oncology (multiple myeloma), metabolic disorders such as diabetes and also hemoglobinopathy and rare pathologies. The company is headquartered in Lisses, France, and operates across more than 120 countries. Sebia is owned by CVC Capital Partners, Téthys Invest and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Willkie deal team was led in Frankfurt by partners Georg Linde and Matthias Schudlo and included Counsel Michael Ilter; in Paris by partners Cédric Hajage and Grégoire Finance and in London by partner Sebastian Fitzgerald.

Jul 2

1 min

Willkie advised PAI Partners on the transaction valuing Perstorp at €2.3 billion. On May 17, Willkie client PAI Partners announced its agreement to sell Perstorp Holding AB, a leading specialty chemicals group, to Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad for an enterprise value of €2.3 billion. Perstorp is a leading chemical company that develops sustainable solutions for the resins and coatings, technical fluids and animal nutrition end-markets. Over the course of its investment, PAI helped Perstorp to grow organically and through market consolidation, and enabled its focus on sustainable and innovative specialty chemistry. Willkie previously advised PAI Partners on numerous transactions, including its acquisition in 2005 of Sydsvenska Kemi, the holding company of Perstorp; Perstorp’s 2012 joint venture with PTT Global to manufacture products for the polyurethane industry; and the transfer in 2018 of PAI’s interest in Perstorp from PAI Europe IV to a new fund managed by PAI Partners and backed by Landmark Partners and other co-investors. Founded in Sweden 141 years ago, Perstorp has a presence in 26 countries, including production plants in Europe, Asia and North America, and employs approximately 1,500 people worldwide. PAI Partners is a preeminent private equity firm that currently manages more than €22.4 billion of dedicated buyout funds. Petronas Chemicals Group is the leading integrated chemicals producer in Malaysia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The Willkie team was led by partner Cédric Hajage and included partners Grégoire Finance, Hugo Nocerino and Faustine Viala; counsel David Kupka; and associates Tala Ayoub and Axel Rogeon.

May 24

1 min

Willkie is advising Cooper Consumer Health in its offer to Viatris Inc., a global healthcare company, for Viatris’ Over-the-Counter (OTC) business. The transaction was announced on October 2, and is subject to workers’ councils information and consultation and to the approval of relevant regulatory authorities. The acquisition will firmly establish Cooper Consumer Health as a leading healthcare platform in Europe, across a wide range of therapeutic areas. The Viatris OTC Portfolio consists of a leading portfolio of c. 200 brands mostly across Europe, with a strong medical heritage, brand equity and endorsements from both consumers and healthcare professionals. The Viatris OTC Portfolio will almost double the size of Cooper Consumer Health, with combined sales reaching over €1.1 billion. The transaction also includes two high-quality manufacturing sites (Mérignac, France, and Confienza, Italy) and one R&D center (Monza, Italy). Cooper Consumer Health is a leading European consumer healthcare player focused on the development, production and distribution of a diverse range of branded OTC products across numerous market segments including: calming and sleeping; vitamins and minerals; sun and skincare; and footcare. Willkie previously advised CVC Funds on their acquisition of a majority stake in Cooper Consumer Health. The cross-border Willkie team is led by partners Cédric Hajage, Grégoire Finance, Sebastian FitzGerald and Dvir Oren.

Oct 2

1 min