Slaughter and May, working as an integrated team with law firms in 18 jurisdictions, including European Best Friends Bredin Prat, Hengeler Mueller and Bonelli Erede Pappalardo, advised GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), supporting GSK’s in-house legal team on an agreement for the sale of its thrombosis brands, Arixtra and Fraxiparine, and the related Notre-Dame de Bondeville (NDB) manufacturing site in France to the Aspen Group (Aspen) for £0.7 billion in cash. Aspen is Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, and a long-term partner of GSK. The agreement is a further example of GSK’s commitment to increase focus on products with the most growth potential. Total sales of the products in the territories subject to this transaction were £177 million in the first half of 2013.

Aspen will acquire global rights to the brands (excluding China, India and Pakistan) and certain dedicated commercial employees, along with the NDB site and the majority of site employees. Subject to regulatory approvals, it is expected that the majority of commercial operations will transfer to Aspen by the end of the year, with the remainder, along with the NDB site, to follow in the first half of 2014.

CONTACTS

Corporate and Commercial: Richard Smith (partner), Chris McGaffin (associate), Claire Jackson (associate), Lewis Iwu (trainee), Howat Duncan (trainee); Pensions and Employment: Roland Doughty (partner), David Hopper (associate); Competition: Bertrand Louveaux (partner), Jordan Ellison (associate); IP: Susie Middlemiss (partner), Will Hedges (associate), Alice McDonald (associate); Tax: Jeanette Zaman (partner), James Hume (associate)

Bredin Prat: Corporate and Commercial: Alexander Blackburn (partner), Brigitte Leclerc (partner), Isabelle Schmitt (associate)

Hengeler Mueller: Corporate and Commercial: Klaus-Dieter Stephan (partner), Thomas Lang (associate), Eckbert Mueller (associate)

Bonelli Erede Pappalardo: Corporate and Commercial: Andrea Mantiglia Carta (partner), Vittorio Pomarici (partner), Marco de Leo (associate)

GlaxoSmithKline: Elizabeth Planell, Steven Warner