Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) is advising Advent International (‘Advent’) in connection with its exclusive negotiations to acquire Zentiva, Sanofi’s European generics business for €1.9bn. Advent is a global investor, with over 25 years’ experience of investing in the healthcare sector. It has extensive experience of executing corporate carve-outs.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2018, subject to finalization of definitive agreements, completion of the appropriate social processes and approval of relevant regulatory authorities.

The international Freshfields team is being led by Alan Mason and Stephanie Hundertmark, with Jochen Dieselhorst, Frank Röhling, Alex Potter, Marcel Kaufmann and Guy Benda leading respectively on the pharma, antitrust, regulatory and management aspects of the transaction.

Camille Chiari and Aileen Legré led the rest of the team with Lennart Schramm, Xiaoguang Cai, Eva-Maria Lohse, Philipp Dohnke, Sascha Arnold, Margaux Bognon-Kuss, Bertrand Guerin, Arend Liese, Uwe Salaschek, Ermelinda Spinelli, Luca Sponziello, Maria Ledeneva and Sergio Mori.

A team from CMS-CMNO, led by David Butts, is advising Advent on CEE law matters.