Ashurst advised international chemical Group Novacap, headquartered in France and majority-owned by private investment company Ardian, on the acquisition of CU CHEMIE UETIKON ("Uetikon"). Uetikon was sold by funds advised by finance investor Equistone Partners Europe. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price and the transaction is still subject to clearance by the relevant competition authorities. Equistone had acquired its majority shareholding as part of a management buy-out in November 2011.

Ashurst's multi-practice team, comprising more than 25 lawyers from Germany (Frankfurt and Munich), Spain (Madrid), Austria (Vienna) and the USA (New York), was led by Frankfurt-based corporate counsel Dr Fabian von Samson-Himmelstjerna:

  * Corporate (Frankfurt): partner Reinhard Eyring, associate Dr Angela Loff, supported by: counsel Martina Rothe, senior associates Dr Philip Cavaillès and Dr Carolin Fenck, associates Dr Philip Schmidt, Dominik Richers and Amanda Goehring (New York).
  * Tax law (Frankfurt): partner Heiko Penndorf, senior associate Felix Krüger.
  * Competition and antitrust law (Munich): partner Ute Zinsmeister, partner Rafael Baena (Madrid), senior associate Dr Maria Held, associate Berta Gutiérrez (Madrid).
  * Finance law (Frankfurt): partner Dr Tobias Krug, senior associate Dr Endrik Kramski, associate Alexandra Heitmann.
  * Employment law (Frankfurt): partner Dr Andreas Mauroschat, senior associate Juditha von der Heydt, associate Florian Feldbusch.
  * Environmental and real estate law (Frankfurt): senior associate Dr Hendrik Theismann.
  * Dispute resolution (Munich): counsel Philipp Beckers, associate Friederike Wittmann.
  * IT law (Frankfurt): counsel Dr Anna-Katharina Lohbeck.

Uetikon, with its registered office in Lahr, Baden-Württemberg, manufactures specialised fine chemicals and pharmaceutical ingredients. In 2014, the company generated an annual turnover of around €40 million and employed around 135 staff.