Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised International Chemical Investors Group (‘ICIG’) on the sale of CordenPharma to European private equity firm Astorg. As part of the transaction, the founders will take the opportunity to reinvest as partners with Astorg. CordenPharma is a global leading pharmaceutical CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation) with highly differentiated capabilities in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Excipients, and Drug Products which has experienced strong organic growth thanks to its position in complex and fast-growing drug modalities including mRNA vaccines, peptides and high-potency compounds notably for oncology therapeutics. Established in 2006, CordenPharma today employs more than 2,600 people in 11 manufacturing facilities and one R&D laboratory located across Europe and the US and serves more than 250 blue-chip pharma and biotech customers. The multi-jurisdictional Freshfields team advised on all legal aspects of the transaction and was led by Partner Arend von Riegen (Frankfurt) and Partner Natascha Doll (Hamburg) as well as by Principal Associate Ferdinand Dreher (Berlin) and Associate David Anschütz (Frankfurt). It further comprised Principal Associate Jan Hermsen (Hamburg), Associate Christoph Herig (Hamburg) and Associate Aleksandar Atanasov (Hamburg, all Corporate/M&A).