Clifford Chance has advised funds exclusively represented by Orlando Management AG, Munich, on the sale of solvadis Group, Frankfurt, to Sojitz Corporation.

Solvadis, a leader in international marketing and distribution of chemical and pharmaceutical products, was one of the portfolio companies of the Special Situations Venture Partners II fund. It was originally sold by mg technologies AG. As of 2016, the company employed around 140 people and generated revenues of around EUR 520 million.

The purchaser, Sojitz Corporation based in Tokyo, is one of Japan's largest trading companies with more than 400 subsidiaries and affiliates across the world. Sojitz produces and sells around a million tonnes of methanol a year, which is mainly used in the manufacture of paints, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Sojitz is aiming to use the purchase of solvadis Group to double the volume of methanol it sells to around two million tonnes a year.

The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Dr. Jörg Rhiel and comprised senior associates Carmen Büker and Susanne Werry (all Corporate), partner Dr. Stefan Simon and associate Dr. Christopher Fischer (both Employment), partner Dr. David Elshorst and senior associate Amrei Fuder (both Real Estate), partner Thorsten Sauerhering and senior associate Dr. Dominik Engl (both Tax) and senior transaction lawyers Ömer Cilingir and Carina Soesanto (both Corporate) – all Frankfurt.