Finance Monthly May 2019 Edition

57 www.finance-monthly.com TRANSACTION REPORTS E.CF Acquires a Majority Stake in CHS Legal Adviser to CHS: Legal Adviser to E.CF The European leader in the distribution of small equipment and consumables goods to professionals in the hotel and catering industry E.CF has acquired a majority stake in CHS, a company specialising in the professional products supply for the Ho.Re.Ca (Hotel-Restaurant-Café) sector. E.CF was advised by Giuseppe Calabi, Riccardo Di Santo and Paolo Bresciani from CBM & Partners and Deloitte. CHS was assisted by CastaldiPartners, with Gaspare Dori, Nicola Romano and Lisa-Alice Julien working on the deal. Acquired by Unilever Legal Adviser to the management team of Graze Legal Adviser to Carlyle Legal Adviser to Unilever Unilever has announced its acquisition of Graze, the UK’s leading healthy snacking brand. Founded in 2008, Graze’s purpose is to put excitement into healthy snacking, providing a range of snacking nuts, seeds, trail mixes and snack bars, with no artificial ingredients. Joelson Law advised the management team of Graze on all aspects of the transaction including all arrangements with the existing selling shareholders and advice and assistance in connection with the negotiations with the Buyer. The Corporate team was led by Phil Hails-Smith (Corporate Partner) who was assisted by Associate Gayle Hawke. They were supported by the employment team at Joelson (including Partner Jennifer Maxwell-Harris) on the revised employment terms for certain team members as part of the transaction. Phil Hails-Smith, Corporate Partner at Joelson, said: “We are delighted to have advised Anthony and the team on this deal – it’s a key strategic step for Graze. Anthony and the team have found an excellent partner to assist them with their growth plans. Joelson’s Corporate team regularly advise on high-profile deals in the FMCG sector, and this deal shows that we continue to be seen as the ‘go to’ firm for entrepreneurs, founders and management teams in the space. We specialise in providing legal counsel to fast-growing healthy food companies, and this deal is a testament to the great results we achieve with clients in this sector.” Anthony Fletcher, CEO at Graze, said: “Phil and the team at Joelson were instrumental in supporting us on all of the legal aspects of this deal – which is transformational for Graze as we look to grow and expand. Joelson’s reputation and expertise as a leading law firm in the FMCG sector led our decision to select them as legal advisers to represent myself and the team for this sale. The great result we have achieved supports that decision.”