DLA Piper has advised Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC on the acquisition of AST Farma and Le Vet in the Netherlands for a total consideration of €340 million and an associated £100m placing to raise funds for the transaction.

Dechra is an international specialist veterinary pharmaceuticals and related products business. Its expertise is in the development, manufacture and sales and marketing of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide. AST Farma is one of the leading companion animal pharmaceutical companies in the Netherlands, focused on generic and generic plus products. Le Vet has focused on the European markets outside of the Netherlands. Working in partnership with AST Farma, Le Vet has developed a strong portfolio of products, and established a network of marketing partners across Europe, including Dechra, to sell them.

UK Head of Corporate Charles Cook led the cross-jurisdictional team which included partner Daphne Bens, senior associates Jess Hogan and Aad Oomen, associate Laura Smit all Corporate in Amsterdam, and in the UK Corporate senior associate Robert Newman, Intellectual Property and Technology senior associate Satnam Sahota and trainee Samantha Bradley, all Birmingham.

Charles Cook said: “This is a hugely important step for Dechra which has emerged as an outstanding success in the sector in recent years, and we look forward to seeing that success continue. This project is an excellent example of DLA Piper’s ability to field a multi-jurisdictional team in order to assist our clients in executing their most important transactions.”