Macfarlanes acted for Thomas Swan & Co on its recent disposal of the Thomas Swan Scientific Equipment Division to Thomas Swan Scientific Equipment, a newly formed subsidiary of AIXTRON AG – a company listed on the German Neuer Markt. The division manufactures equipment for the production of semi-conductors by chemical vapour deposition and distributes them worldwide. Corporate partner William King led the team. Gary Copeland of Fernwood Legal Practice dealt with completion arrangements for new premises for the business. McDermott Will & Emery, led by managing partner Bill Charnley, advised AIXTRON. The company’s in-house lawyer, Barbara Drenkelfort, also advised.
Theodore Goddard acted for United Distillers & Vintners (UDV), the spirits and wine business of Diageo, on the sale of the Cinzano brand to Campari. The deal follows three disposals by UDV of other brands: Vecchia, Romagna, Metaxa and Asbach. The net proceeds of all four deals were valued at £255m. Corporate partner Peter Kavanagh led the team. Campari was advised in-house and by corporate partner Mario Tortonese from Turin-based Grande Stevens-Pedersoli.
