International law firm Dechert LLP advised Kerry Group (“Kerry”), the global flavour and consumer foods producer on its acquisition of US food giant Cargill’s flavours business, Cargill Flavor Systems, for US$230m. The acquisition completed on 1st December 2011.

With an annual turnover currently in excess of €4bn, Irish-headquartered Kerry is a global food ingredients and flavours producer and supplier to the consumer food processing and marketing sector. Active in over 200 countries, Kerry employs some 23,000 people across its manufacturing and product development facilities in 23 countries and its network of international representative offices.

Cargill Flavor Systems is a flavours business with its primary strengths in beverage and dairy-based products, employing more than 700 people through its integrated flavour development and application centres in France, the UK, South Africa, India, Malaysia, China, the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil, supported by a network of sales representative offices in 12 other countries.

The international Dechert team advising Kerry was led by corporate partners Jonathan Angell in London and Ermine Bolot in Paris, assisted by corporate associates Jodie-Valler Feltham and Amy Grammer in London and Adrien Martigne in Paris. Also in London, partner Charles Wynn-Roberts and associate Emma Richardson advised on employment matters, partner David Gubbay on tax matters, counsel Renzo Marchini on IP matters and associate David Gervais on real-estate related aspects. EU competition advice was provided by partner Isabelle Rahman and associate Greg Bonné in Brussels. US advice was provided by partner Ian Hartman and associate Brad Pollack for corporate matters and Abbi Cohen on environmental issues.