Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has advised XIO Group, a London-headquartered private equity firm, on the sale of COMPO EXPERT GmbH, a leading manufacturer of specialty fertilizers for commercial use. The purchaser is the listed Polish agrochemical group Grupa Azoty S.A.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals as well as the approval by the extraordinary general meeting of Grupa Azoty. Closing is expected to take place between Q4 2018 and Q1 2019.

The Freshfields team was led by Dr. Heiner Braun, Dr. Moritz Koch, and Dr. Markus Paul. Sascha Schubert led on antitrust, Dr. Michael Josenhans led on finance, Wolrad Prinz zu Waldeck und Pyrmont and Dr. Michael Ramb led on dispute resolution, Roman Eschke and Patrick Wendler led on employment matters, Dr. Martin Schiessl led on tax, and Guillermo Sánchez-Ostiz led on real estate.