Wragge & Co LLP Corporate Group has completed its first deal for Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S. (SCAE). The firm advised on the acquisition of 80 per cent of the issued share capital of Interfarm UK Ltd., a distributor of crop protection products in the UK and Ireland.

SCAE is a wholly owned French subsidiary of Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical Co. The acquisition will strengthen SCAE's position in the UK and Irish markets, and will provide further opportunities to expand sales of its crop protection products.

Corporate partner Julian Henwood led a cross-firm team comprising corporate lawyers Richard Goold and Ann-Marie Davies, tax specialists Richard Freeman and Neil Pearson, and transaction services lawyers Nigel Collins and Greg Dunn. Sarah Gray provided employment law advice and Anna Colley advised on real estate issues. They worked alongside Steve Kirby, Marketing Director and Jean-Yves Ravinet, General Manager at SCAE.

Steve Kirby said: "We benefited greatly from the breadth and depth of Wragge & Co's specialist knowledge and advice. Potential risks were identified, analysed and solutions were proposed, which facilitated our decision-making and gave us confidence as we went through the process."
Julian Henwood said: "Our experienced M&A advisers, supported by experts from various legal disciplines, provided a single team able to handle every element of this first cross-border deal for SCAE. This is a key strategic acquisition for SCAE which will help develop Sumitomo's global business."

The Sumitomo Chemical Group includes some 100 companies operating around the world in six business sectors: basic chemicals, petrochemicals and plastics, fine chemicals, IT-related chemicals, agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals. SCAE develops and distributes crop protection products throughout Europe. Following the acquisition, the company will continue to expand agricultural chemical operations globally.

Incorporated in 1996, Interfarm (UK) Limited supplies herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Following this acquisition, the new business will introduce several new products which are currently in development for arable and speciality crops. James Allen at Taylor Vinters and Paul Warman at Leathes Prior advised the shareholders of Interfarm (UK) Limited.

Wragge & Co's 17-partner Corporate Group is a national practice advising major corporate and institutional clients on mid-market M&A, private equity, equity markets and MBO work.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 213 2397, Alexa Highfield on +44 (0)121 213 2396 or Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 213 2360

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.