Willkie has vast experience in all segments of this diversified market, representing chemical manufacturers and distributers throughout the U.S and Europe, as well as those funds and financial institutions seeking investment in this area.
Experience
Ardian/ESIM Chemicals: Represented Ardian in the sale of ESIM Chemicals, is a global provider of high-quality agricultural and crop protection chemicals, intermediates and maleic anhydride tree chemicals, to Sun European Partners.
Arkema: Advised Arkema, a global chemicals company and France’s leading chemicals producer, on several of its sales and acquisitions, including its
- contemplated sale of its Functional Polyolefins business to SK Global Chemical.
- sale of its activated carbon and filter aid business to Calgon Carbon.
- proposed divestment of its PMMA business to Trinseo.
Cowen Group, Inc./Dahlman Rose & Co. LLC: Represented Cowen in an all-stock acquisition of Dahlman Rose & Co. LLC, a privately held investment bank specializing in the energy, metals and mining, transportation, chemicals and agriculture sectors.
Grillo-Werke AG: Represented Grillo-Werke AG, the European market leader in the processing of zinc and sulfur, in the sale of its intellectual property and know-how regarding Methanesulfonic Acid to an international chemical company.
PAI Partners/Perstorp Holding AB/Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad: Represented PAI Partners in its sale of Perstorp Holding AB, a leading specialty chemicals group, to Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad.
Platinum Equity/Solenis: Debt financing counsel to Platinum Equity in its $5.25 billion acquisition of water treatment company Solenis from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and BASF.
Solenis/Platinum Equity/Clearon Corp.: Represented Solenis, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, in the financing of its acquisition of Clearon Corp.
Solenis/Diversey Holdings, Ltd.: Represented Platinum Equity and its portfolio company Solenis in the financing of Solenis’ $4.6 billion acquisition of Diversey Holdings, Ltd.
Syntagma Capital/Imerys: Represented Syntagma Capital in exclusive negotiations to acquire certain Imerys assets serving the paper markets.
The Capstreet Group/Thorpe Specialty Services: Advised The Capstreet Group in its sale of Thorpe Specialty Services.
Some of these matters were handled by Willkie attorneys prior to joining Willkie.
ABN AMRO Rothschild, Dresdner Kleinwort/SGL CARBON AG: Represented ABN AMRO Rothschild and Dresdner Kleinwort in the convertible bond issue of Germany-based SGL, one of the world's leading manufacturers of products made from carbon with a portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite materials to carbon fibers and composites.
Millennium Audit Committee: Investigated accounting issues on behalf of Audit Committee of Millennium Chemicals, Inc.
Monsanto Company/Solutia, Inc.: Represented Monsanto in the chapter 11 case of Solutia, a U.S.-based applied chemicals and specialty materials company.
Sears Petroleum & Transport Corp.: Won jury verdict in a patent infringement and trade secret theft lawsuit involving a road de-icing product. The jury found that Cargill infringed on Sears Petroleum’s patent for a deicing solution made from organic waste products that makes road salt more effective at lower temperatures while being better for the environment than conventional treatments.
Umicore N.V. and Umicore USA: Represented Umicore against BASF in an ITC investigation regarding the importation of lithium metal oxide cathode materials. Parties reached a favorable resolution after trial and a full hearing before the International Trade Commission.
Univar Solutions: Representing Univar in multidistrict litigation that has been filed on behalf of purchasers of crop inputs (seeds and crop protection chemicals, such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, used by farmers). The lawsuit alleges anticompetitive conduct by major crop inputs manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, by, among other things, jointly boycotting companies that would have introduced lower prices of crop inputs through online sales.
Univar USA, Inc.: Representing Univar in a patent infringement matter related to plant-derived chemicals used for various road deicing applications.
Univar USA, Inc.: Represented Univar before the United States Court of International Trade in a Section 1592 claim for gross negligence related to alleged transshipment of chemicals to avoid antidumping duties. Settled on the eve of trial after favorable pretrial rulings.
W.R. Grace: Counseled unofficial committees or groups of bondholders or other creditors on the chapter 11 case of W.R. Grace, a Maryland-based global specialty chemicals company focused on refining, construction materials and specialty technologies.
Whitmire Micro-Gen, Inc.: Represented Whitmire against Dow with regard to the Sentricon Termite Bait System. After vigorous litigation, the parties reached a business resolution favorable to Whitmire.
Some of these matters were handled by Willkie attorneys prior to joining Willkie.