The European alliance of Herbert Smith, Benelux firm Stibbe and Germany’s Gleiss Lutz Hootz Hirsch has secured a lead role on one of the biggest deals to hit the Dutch market this year.

The E1.3bn (£829m) deal, sees AS Watson, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong giant Hutchison Whampoa, acquire the Kruidvat Group, one of Europe’s largest health and beauty businesses.