Corporate / M&A

Competition

IP / IT

Financing and Investment Products

Clariant

On June 14, 2021, Clariant announced that it has reached an agreement for the divestment of its Pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners. At the time of closing of the transaction, Clariant will reinvest to become a 20% shareholder alongside Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners in the ultimate holding company (holding the combined Clariant-Heubach Pigments business) at an enterprise value of CHF 805 m to CHF 855 m on a cash and debt free basis, depending on an earn-out payment of CHF 50 m contingent on the 2021 financial performance of Clariant’s Pigments business. The combined business will be a global pigments player with approximately 3,000 employees generating more than EUR 900 m in annual sales and strong service and production capabilities across the globe.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2022, subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions. Once completed, Clariant will have finalized its intended divestments as part of its portfolio upgrade, having previously divested its Healthcare Packaging and Masterbatches businesses. The Pigments divestment concludes Clariant’s transformation into a high value specialty chemical company with above-market growth, higher profitability, and stronger cash generation.
Homburger acts as global lead counsel to Clariant. The Homburger team is led by partners Frank Gerhard and Daniel Hasler and comprises lead associate Stefan Blunschi, associates Carlo Sulser, Marc Schamaun, Nicola Togni, junior associates Lars Göldi, Rafael Winter, Severin Egloff, Luzius Kaufmann and Urs Stürmer (all Corporate / M&amp;A), partners Marcel Dietrich, Richard Stäuber, counsel Andreas Burger, associates Allegra Arnold, Jonas Krull and Katharina Bratvogel (all Competition), partner Reto Heuberger, associates Marc Vogelsang and Arbnor Sheholli (all Tax), partner Gregor Bühler and associates Philippe Baumann and Daniel Lütolf (all IP / IT) as well as partner Jürg Frick (Financing and Investment Products).

Homburger advises Clariant on the divestment of its Pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners

Financial Market Regulation

Credit Suisse

On February 13, 2021, Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG launched its innovative mortgage investment platform allowing investors to make standardized and automated investments in a periodically updated portfolio of mortgage loans originated by Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG. The platform will enable investors to select specific mortgage loans in which they wish to make an investment based on the eligibility criteria agreed upon with Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG. Under this novel structure, different investors will be able to invest in mortgage loans that are secured by the same mortgage certificate(s). The investments and the claims thereunder are fully secured by way of a fiduciary security structure. On the day of the launch of the platform, the initial investment in a selected portfolio of mortgage loans by the first participating investor (Swiss Mortgage Umbrella Fund – Swiss Mortgage Fund I) amounted to approx. CHF 1 bn.
Homburger advised Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG with respect to all aspects of the structuring, establishment and launch of the platform. The Homburger team was led by partners Stefan Kramer (Capital Markets / Financial Market Regulation) and Dieter Grünblatt (Tax) and included associates Alexander Wherlock (Capital Markets / Financial Market Regulation) and Marc Vogelsang (Tax) as well as junior associate Lars Göldi (Financial Market Regulation).

Homburger advised Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG on its novel mortgage investment platform

Restructuring / Insolvency

Litigation

Swissport

On August 31, 2020, Swissport International AG (SPI) announced that SPI together with certain other entities of the Swissport group (Swissport) entered into a lock-up agreement for comprehensive restructuring which envisages debt-for-equity swap with approx. EUR 1.9 bn of existing debt converted into equity or extinguished and EUR 500 m in new long-term facility. Swissport also entered into binding documentation for a EUR 300 m super senior interim facility. This additional financing provides Swissport with liquidity to trade through the COVID-19 pandemic and to facilitate the restructuring process. Under the terms of the lock-up agreement, Swissport will shortly be launching an M&amp;A process to run in parallel with other restructuring steps as customary in such situations. The financial restructuring is expected to be completed in late 2020.
Swissport is world&#8217;s leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, with 64,000 employees, achieved consolidated operating revenue of EUR 3.13 bn in 2019. At the end of December 2019, Swissport was active at 300 airports in 47 countries on six continents.
Homburger advises SPI in connection with the restructuring as to Swiss law. The Homburger team is led by partners Claude Lambert (Corporate / M&amp;A) and Stefan Kramer (Financing and Investment Products; Restructuring / Insolvency) and includes senior counsels Ueli Huber (Restructuring / Insolvency) and Georg Naegeli (Litigation; Restructuring / Insolvency), associates Marco Rostetter, Daniel Kuhn, Aron Waltuch and Nina Hagmann (all Corporate / M&amp;A; Restructuring / Insolvency), Miguel Sogo (Litigation; Restructuring / Insolvency) and Simon Bachmann (Litigation) as well as junior associates Lars Göldi (Financing and Investment Products) and Vincent Croisier (Corporate / M&amp;A).

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

Lars
Göldi

Homburger advises Clariant on the divestment of its Pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners

Homburger advised Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG on its novel mortgage investment platform

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

Join the Team

Lars Göldi

Career

Languages

Bar Registration

LarsGöldi

Homburger advises Clariant on the divestment of its Pigments business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners

Homburger advised Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG on its novel mortgage investment platform

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

Join the Team

Lars Göldi

Career

Languages

Bar Registration

Lars
Göldi