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

Capital Markets

Litigation

MCH Group

On December 22, 2020, MCH Group AG (MCH Group), a leading international live-marketing company with a comprehensive services network spanning the entire exhibition and event market, completed a recapitalization which improved its equity position by almost CHF 100 m, of which CHF 74.4 m cash proceeds out of a two-tranche capital increase and CHF 24.2 m by way of reduction of an outstanding loan from the Canton of Basel-Stadt.
The capital increases were underwritten by, among others, Lupa Systems LLC (Lupa), an independent private investment company controlled by James Murdoch as a new anchor shareholder. Following the completion of both capital increases, Lupa is expected to hold 32.32% of the shares in MCH Group, certain public sector shareholders will hold 33.34%, and the remaining public shareholders 34.34%.
In the context of the planned recapitalization, MCH Group settled all outstanding legal matters with LLB Swiss Investment AG, AMG Vermögensberatung and Erhard Lee. The shareholders affiliated with Erhard Lee have withdrawn all pending lawsuits before civil courts and supervisory authorities, and have supported the capital raise as implemented.
Homburger AG acted as legal counsel to MCH on this series of transactions and legal cases. The Homburger team was led by partners Hansjürg Appenzeller and Daniel Daeniker, and included lead associate Stefan Blunschi, associates Angela Oppliger and Anna Peter, and junior associates Daniel Madani, Cédric Berger and Oriana Schöni (all Corporate / M&amp;A, Capital Markets) as well as partner Roman Baechler and associate Simon Bachmann (both Litigation), partner Stefan Oesterhelt and associate Marc Vogelsang (both Tax), and partner Richard Stäuber (Competition).

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Employment and Executive Compensation

Real Estate

Novartis

On July 1, 2019, it was announced that Novartis (SIX: NOVN) and Lonza (SIX: LONN) entered into a binding contractual commitment for the sale of a sterile drug product fill &amp; finish facility of Novartis in Stein (Canton of Aargau) to Lonza. The management and operations teams will be retained and Lonza will manufacture for Novartis at the facility.
Homburger advises Novartis in this matter. The Homburger team is led by partner Marcel Dietrich (Real Estate) and includes counsel Peter Müller (Tax), associates Daniel Häusermann, Daniel Kuhn and Aron Waltuch (all Corporate / M&amp;A), Luca Dal Molin (IP / IT), Stefan Gäumann (Real Estate), as well as junior associates Michael Lüchinger and Oriana Schöni (both Corporate / M&amp;A). Associates Stefan Blunschi (Corporate / M&amp;A), Irène Suter-Sieber and Jakob Steiner (both Employment and Executive Compensation) also contributed to the transaction.

Homburger advises Novartis in the sale of a sterile drug product fill & finish facility to Lonza

Stefan
Blunschi

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

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Homburger advises Novartis in the sale of a sterile drug product fill & finish facility to Lonza

Corporate M&A 2021: Switzerland

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Stefan Blunschi

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StefanBlunschi

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

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Homburger advises Novartis in the sale of a sterile drug product fill & finish facility to Lonza

Corporate M&A 2021: Switzerland

Join the Team

Stefan Blunschi

Career

Languages

Bar Registration

Teams

Stefan
Blunschi