Double Awards Win for Dechert at Global Competition Review Awards
Dechert LLP’s antitrust/competition team was twice honored at the Global Competition Review’s GCR Awards 2019, when a Dechert antitrust matter was named global “Matter of the Year” and “Merger Control Matter of the Year for Europe”. Two of the firm’s other matters were finalists in the merger control categories covering the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
Bayer’s US$66 billion acquisition of Monsanto, believed to be the largest all-cash acquisition in history, was named global “Matter of the Year”. Dechert acted as co-counsel to Monsanto on EU antitrust issues, advising on merger control clearance strategy, media outreach and engagement with investors and key stakeholders. The transaction also won “Merger control matter of the year – Europe”.
CVS Health's US$70 billion acquisition of health insurer Aetna, the largest healthcare services transaction in history, was a finalist for “Merger control matter of the year – Americas.” Dechert served as antitrust counsel to CVS Health in the transaction, which received DOJ clearance last November after one of the broadest-ever merger investigations, involving DOJ, 19 state attorneys general, 38 state insurance departments and Congress.
South Korean memory chip maker SK hynix’s involvement in the US$18 billion acquisition of Toshiba Corporation’s memory business was also named a finalist for “Merger control matter of the year – Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa”. A 50-lawyer, 12-office Dechert team devised a transaction structure that would answer antitrust concerns in China and other Asian jurisdictions, using a convertible bond instrument and fund structure to channel SK hynix’s US$3.6 billion investment into the acquisition.
The ceremony for the GCR 9th Annual Awards was held on March 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington DC. Winners were chosen by industry vote.
About Dechert
Dechert is a leading global law firm with 27 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.
