- Merger significantly expands France-headquartered life sciences consultant's presence in Asia Pacific region
- Deal activity in medical and pharmaceutical sectors expected to ramp up in 2024
Lander & Rogers' corporate transactions team acted for ProductLife Group on its acquisition of Commercial Eyes Pty Ltd, an Australian company specialising in the provision of commercialisation and lifecycle management services to the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
Headquartered in France and founded 30 years ago, ProductLife is a global service provider employing more than 1,600 people and offering a range of specialised consulting services to the life sciences sector. The acquisition marks a significant investment for ProductLife as it expands its footprint in the Asia Pacific region and allows both companies to draw on their "collective strength, expertise, and passion to drive positive change and shape the future of the life sciences industry," ProductLife CEO Xavier Duburcq said in a statement.
Lander & Rogers partner David Tink, who led the transaction for ProductLife with partner David Morris and lawyer Annabelle Gray, said the firm was "delighted to have played a part in this important next phase of growth for ProductLife" and looked forward to continuing to work with the company as it pursued new opportunities in the region.
As well as advising on the acquisition process, Lander & Rogers assisted ProductLife in undertaking comprehensive legal due diligence, with specialised input from the firm's workplace relations & safety, real estate & projects, and digital economy teams. The transaction also involved input from the firm's growing banking & finance team across the funding aspect of the deal as well as regulatory advice from the firm's specialist regulatory advisory teams.
Mr Tink said that Australia continues to present a stable and attractive option for foreign buyers tapping into the Asia Pacific market, and he expects to see more international players investing in Australia in the year ahead ─ particularly in the life sciences sector, which has recently seen an uptick in deals focused on consolidating service offerings and building a global footprint.
Lander & Rogers' corporate team is frequently called upon by international investors seeking strategic counsel on the intricacies of entering or expanding their presence in the Australian market. The firm recently advised US-headquartered KENT Corporation on its acquisition of Australian dessert producer and exporter Frosty Boy, and UK-based mineral resource developer Metals One on its acquisition of Australian mineral exploration company Scandinavian Resource Holdings.
