DLA Piper has advised an affiliate of Sun European Partners on the leveraged buyout acquisition of the C&K Group from the American private equity fund Littlejohn&Co. Partly funded through a US$130 million multicurrency unitranche bond issuance arranged and subscribed by Tikehau Capital, the business was acquired for an undisclosed value.

Founded in France in 1928, C&K Holdings, a manufacturer of switches and other electronic products, with close to 90 years of experience, has become a global company with more than 1,500 employees located in their headquarters in Newton, US and factories in Huizhou, China and Dole, France, from which they supply customers in a wide array of industries (automotive, aerospace, medical, telecoms).

DLA Piper's global team was led by London Restructuring partner Noam Ankri, who commented: "This deal has once again proved that we can respond to challenging timeframes, as well as simultaneously coordinating different issues in several time zones such as the United States, Europe and China."

The core team, which was led by Noam Ankri, comprised associates Marta de Franciscis, Elsa Decourt and Grégoire Charlet (all Restructuring, Paris), partner Maud Manon, counsel Julien Godlewski, associates Pierre Tardivo and Glenda Pereire-Robert (all Finance), partner Jérôme Halphen, associate Vanessa Li (all Employment), partner Cendrine Délivré, associate Clémence Descoutures (all Regulatory), partner Lionel Rosenfeld and associate Gaëtan Rogeau (all Real Estate).

DLA Piper's international team included Corporate partners Nickie Cheney, Daniel Eisner and Jeffrey L. Salinger, and associate Hariqbal Basi (all US).