Latham advises Astorg on its acquisition of Solina from Ardian

Astorg announces that it has entered in exclusive negotiations to become the new majority shareholder of Solina, the leading European manufacturer of ingredient and seasoning blends for the food industry, from Ardian. Solina’s management will reinvest a significant part of their proceeds alongside Astorg.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in France, Solina serves more than eighteen thousand clients with 2,250 employees across twenty seven sites across Europe and Canada. The company is exposed to resilient food consumption markets and to secular growth trends fueled by the shift in food consumption towards more premium and natural ingredients. Solina has leading positions in the countries it operates in, resulting from superior customer service and R&D capabilities. Solina puts sustainability at the centre of its activities by creating healthier food solutions and more sustainable diets as well as by contributing to the development of meat-alternatives. 

The transaction will be submitted to consultation with the workers’ council and remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals. 

Latham & Watkins is advising Astorg on the transaction with a corporate team led by partners Thomas Forschbach and Alexander Crosthwaite and associates Xavier Nassoy, Thibault Burnier, and Agathe Joyce. Partner Lionel Dechmann, counsel Carla-Sophie Imperadeiro and associate Aurélien Lorenzi are advising on finance aspects; partner Frédéric Pradelles with associate Laure Maes on antitrust aspects; partner Xavier Renard with associate Alexis Caminel on tax aspects; and partner Matthias Rubner on employment aspects.