UGGC & Associés counsels to Arc International for a concentration

On 24 November 2004, the Minister for Economic Affairs gave his consent to a transaction involving the purchase by Arc International Group, of four wholesalers specializing in tableware products, namely the following companies: Callens-Lesage, Financière Saint-Laurent, Vachaud Distribution, Francis Piffaut & Fils and their subsidiaries. This concentration, consisting mostly in a vertical integration (with some horizontal overlapping) was particularly complex, since many markets were likely to be concerned and there was very little information accessible on the sector. Fearing that this transaction might lead to some competitors losing access to the market, ministerial departments referred the matter to the Competition Council (phase II). After reviewing the matter, the Competition Council considered that this transaction was not likely to impede competition. Based on this opinion of the Competition Council, the Minister gave his consent to the transaction, provided various obligations were complied with. At Arc International, Eric Thomas, Jean-Paul Rispail, Jean-Claude Chevilly and Emeric Machurot were in charge of the case file, and for the target companies, Thierry Lesage, Pierre Vachaud, Serge Piffaut and Edmond Kassapian. For all issues of competition law, the purchaser was advised by UGGC & Associés (Michel Ponsard & Malka Marcinkowski). For the financial review of the case file before the Competition Council, UGGC & Associés were assisted by LECG law firm (David Sevy, Jeanne Lubek & Myriam Borgi). Concerning all aspects of competition law, Target companies were advised by Latham & Watkins law firm (Hugues Vallette Viallard & Frédéric Pradelles) and by merchant bank Aforge Finance (Bertrand Le Galchet Baron & Virginie Clerjeaud Lagrange) for all financial aspects of the case file before the Competition Council.