bpv GRIGORESCU ȘTEFĂNICĂ advised JLL Partners, a US private equity firm, on the Romanian law aspects of its acquisition of the Life Couriers group, an international specialist in time and temperature critical logistics for the healthcare and life sciences sectors, operating across Europe, the USA, Central America and Asia.
The firm’s multidisciplinary team provided legal assistance throughout the entire transaction process, covering the legal due diligence, advising on the transaction documents, assisting with the foreign direct investment (FDI) screening process and obtaining the required clearance, as well as providing support in connection with the signing and closing of the transaction. In addition, the team advised JLL Partners on the acquisition of the minority interests held by the Romanian shareholders in the local entity of the Life Couriers group, which was completed in connection with and simultaneously with the closing of the main transaction.
The multidisciplinary team was led by Cristina de Jonge, Partner (Commercial/Antitrust&Merger Control), and included Managing Associate Laura Popa (Employment), Senior Associates Anamaria Rotariu (Corporate/M&A), Denisa Kopandi and Diana Ciubotaru (Commercial), and Antonia Coman (Employment), together with Associates Ioana Martin (Antitrust&Merger Control), Arina Cornescu (Corporate/Dispute Resolution), Angelina Dănăila (Real Estate) and Alexandra Fălcuță (Employment).
Our contribution to this acquisition highlights our firm’s expertise in managing the complex authorisation process for foreign direct investment (FDI) and cross-border M&A transactions in highly regulated sectors. The assistance provided to JLL Partners, both in relation to the main transaction and the concurrent acquisition of the local minority stake, demonstrates the value of our multidisciplinary team and the strength of the bpv LEGAL international network.
Cristina de Jonge
bpv HÜGEL (Austria) and bpv BRAUN PARTNERS (Czech Republic), member firms of the bpv LEGAL alliance, provided legal support across the relevant jurisdictions involved in the transaction.
In Austria, bpv HÜGEL’s team conducted legal due diligence under the lead of partner Elke Napokoj. In the Czech Republic, the bpv Braun Partners team was led by partner Arthur Braun and managing associate Iva Wenzel, supported by senior associate Markéta Kleinová and associate Sabina Škrobánková. The team carried out legal due diligence on the Czech target and supported the signing and closing of the transaction. Winston Taylor advised JLL Partners as lead counsel on the US legal aspects of the transaction.
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The firm's M&A practice continues to grow through mandates of this kind, including transactions such as:
- the shareholders of Automecanica S.A. on the sale of the company to Otokar;
- Autonom International on insurance & FDI regulatory approvals and the completion of its investment in Eazy Asigurari;
- Zitec on the acquisition of Equilobe, a Romanian company specialised in the development of complex software solutions, as part of Zitec’s international expansion strategy;
- Motherson on the Romanian aspects of the transaction involving the acquisition of 100% of Nexans autoelectric’s global wiring harness business;
- cbs on the acquisition of Skyconsult’s SAP Business, marking its entry into the Romanian market;
- FOOTPRINTS AI on its latest investment by Catalyst Romania FUND II, to support the international expansion plans of Footprints’ AI-powered retail media platform;
- SARMIS Capital on the acquisition of Total Technologies to consolidate Smart ID’s position as a regional market leader.
