Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Nishimura & Asahi are advising on the JPY350 billion (USD2.1 billion) acquisition of Alinamin Pharmaceutical, a leading Japanese over-the-counter drugmaker.
This buyout sees Asia-based private equity firm MBK Partners acquiring Alinamin Pharmaceutical from US peer Blackstone Group, with the latter retaining a minority stake post-sale.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is representing Blackstone in the deal. The firm has had a long-standing relationship with Blackstone, having previously advised the private equity giant on its initial acquisition of Alinamin from Takeda Pharmaceutical in 2021.
M&A experts Anthony King, Sonya Ho, Paul Kim and Tiffany Shih are leading the team. Key contributors are Étienne Renaudeau, Sarah Chaudhuri and Luke Cowdell on antitrust matters; Makiko Harunari and Chenyu Cui in banking and credit; and Meredith Jones and Paul Jansch in tax. IP considerations are being handled by Ron Ben-Yehuda, while Steven Klar and Richard Zhang are providing funds expertise. Gregory Grogan and Pasco Struhs are managing the employments and benefits issues.
Nishimura & Asahi is representing MBK Partners. The firm’s team is spearheaded by M&A and corporate partners Hiroshi Uchima, Junya Kokaji and Hudson Hamilton, finance partner Toshiyuki Nonaka, and life sciences regulatory and compliance partner Alisa Inuzuka.
Nishimura & Asahi previously advised Takeda Pharmaceutical on its acquisition of Shire in 2019.
Alinamin Pharmaceutical plans to expand its market presence in China, South Korea and Thailand.
