Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co's Private Equity team in Paris has advised longstanding client Société Générale Capital Partners, in partnership with Sagard and Euromezzanine, on the leveraged buyout of specialty chemicals distributor Safic-Alcan from Parquest Capital.

The buyout, for a confidential sum, will see management take a majority stake in the business and has been underwritten by Natixis and HSBC, who both acted as bookrunner. Société Générale has invested in the deal through the subscription of ordinary shares and bonds with attached warrants.

Partner Pierre-Emmanuel Chevalier led on this complex transaction and was assisted by director Alexia Ruleta. Several firms were involved and the deal was a long-running affair, eventually concluding in February 2015.

Safic-Alcan is a fast-growing business. Its revenue increased from €250 million to €400 million during the timeline of the transaction. It is one of the major European players in the distribution of specialty chemical products, particularly rubber coatings, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Also involved in the transaction were King & Wood Mallesons, DLA Piper, Arsene Taxand, Scotto & Associes and White & Case.

Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co's 50-strong, 12-partner Paris office offers a fully-tailored legal service to its national and international clients, with particular expertise in tax, corporate, real estate, banking and finance, corporate recovery and restructuring, dispute resolution, employment, and general commercial, intellectual property, projects and construction work.