We advised Stichting DOEN with its investment in Chocolatemakers, manufacturers of sustainable chocolate located in Amsterdam.

Gimv acquired the Dutch company Brakel together with the existing management team. The transaction was partly financed through a leveraged finance facility with related security in the Netherlands, U.K. and Belgium. Rabobank acted as lender in the acquisition financing. Brakel is an important player in the field of glass daylight constructions as well as ventilation and fire safety solutions. ^*

^*  Marcel van de Vorst led this transaction for Gimv whilst at previous law firm.

We advised BOM Capital on the sale of its shares in BioNovion to Aduro Biotech. The company, based on the Pivot Park in Oss, is the new European headquarters of Nasdaq-listed Aduro Biotech and renamed in Aduro Biotech Europe. Aduro acquired BioNovion to broaden its technological portfolio and to increase the potential of immunotherapy. BioNovion develops monoclonal antibody therapies against cancer, on the basis of their unique platform technology and expertise in the field of immune therapy of cancer.

Charles Eijsbouts advised Villebois SAS (France) in the acquisition (together with IDIA Capital Investissement, Unigrains et Carvest) of Holding Fournier SAS (France), one of the largest producers of Sauvignon Blanc in the Sancerre region.

Mendix (App Platform as a Service (aPaaS)) secured a venture loan provided by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and related security. The transaction included a warrant. ^*

^*  Marcel van de Vorst led this transaction for Mendix whilst at previous law firm.

We advised Standard Investment in the acquisition, together with management, of all shares in Synres B.V., a former subsidiary of Royal DSM N.V. Synres is a manufacturer of various types of high-quality, solvent-borne resins which act as a binder for coatings. The alkyd, acrylate, and urethane resins are made for the paint and coatings industry, in a wide range of applications such as decorative paints and coatings for metal (eg. ships, bridges, storage tanks, cars) and wood. Synres is located in Hook of Holland.

Charles Eijsbouts assisted as interim in-house legal counsel ING Groep N.V. with respect to the sale of its South American insurance business to the Colombian Grupo Sura, the IPO of its US insurance business (Voya) and the sale of ING Direct Canada to Scotiabank.

Forcare, a developer of a software suite that seamlessly integrates existing healthcare systems, has acquired a growth capital financing from Prime Ventures. We advised Prime Ventures. ^*

^*  Marcel van de Vorst led this transaction whilst at previous law firm.

Gimv acquired United Dutch Breweries (UDB), together with UDB’s management, from Dutch investment company Egeria. The transaction was structured as a leveraged management buy-out. UDB, based in Breda (NL), is an independent beer group, owning among others Oranjeboom, 3 Horses, Royal Dutch, Atlas – heritage brands, going back to the company’s origins. In addition, UDB sells specialty beers, such as non-alcoholic beers, stout beers and dark malt beverages. UDB is strongly focused on the exports of affordable premium branded beers, bringing European quality to consumers worldwide. ^*

^*  Marcel van de Vorst led this transaction for Gimv whilst at previous law firm.

We advised Standard Investment in the acquisition of an industrial bakery in the Netherlands for low-oxygen packed bread products with a long shelf life. This bakery was sold by Bakkersland to Dutch Bakery Group, a collaboration between Standard Investment and her partner Dutch Bakery BV.

Since the acquisition both companies operate under the name Dutch Bakery Group (DBG) and this results in a strong position as market leader in the Benelux and the established top five player in Europe for low-oxygen packed bread.