Ashurst advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch International in relation to the £1.56 billion recommended cash offer for AZ Electronic Materials S.A., the London-listed company that makes chemicals used in electronic devices such as Apple's iPad, announced today. The offer is being made by Germany's Merck 15. Allgemeine Beteiligungs-GmbH, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck KGaA, the world's largest maker of liquid crystals for flat panel displays. BofAML is acting as financial adviser to Merck.

The Ashurst team was led by corporate partner Tom Mercer, assisted by SDG consultant Stephen Edlmann, senior SDG associate Christopher Hardingham, and corporate associate Tom Bartram.