Legal Era Nov 2017 | Page 22

22 Within The Circle Divestment HINDUSTAN UNILEVER SELLS 50% STAKE IN KIMBERLY-CLARK LEVER TO KIMBERLY-CLARK CORP On September 29, 2017, India’s largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods company Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has entered into a share purchase agreement with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, U.S.A. (KCC) for divestment of HUL’s 50% shareholding in Kimberly-Clark Lever Private Limited (KCL) in favor of KCC. In 1995, a 50-50 joint venture was formed between HUL and KCC known as KCL for baby and child care and feminine care products in India under the brands ‘Huggies’ and ‘Kotex’ respectively. Vaish Associates acted as the external legal counsels for Hindustan Unilever Limited. Vaish Associates advised HUL on all facets pertaining to the sale of shares which involved drafting, negotiating and finalizing of definitive agreements. With a heritage of over 80 years in India, HUL is the market leader in Indian consumer products with presence in over 20 consumer categories such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, tea, coffee, packaged foods, ice cream, and water purifiers. HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever PLC. Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a global company dealing in essentials through product innovation and building our personal care, consumer tissue and K-C Professional brands. It is primarily engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide range of products mostly made from natural or synthetic fibers and deals in brands like Huggies, Scott, Kleenex, Cottonelle and Kotex. M&A DLF’S CYBER CITY RENTAL ARM SELLS STAKE TO GIC FOR $1.9BN associates Mukul Sharma and Navin Kumar, principal associates, Ishita Khandelwal and Sumi Saikia. Partners Mrinal Kumar and Avnish Sharma and senior associate Shrutikirti Kumar worked collaboratively as the real estate team while the competition law team was led by partners Shweta Shroff Chopra and Manika Brar, and includes associates Supritha Prodaturi and Akkriti Bhatt. The other parties acting for DLF in the deal were Ernst & Young, who acted as the transaction advisor along with Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan as the financial advisors. Realty Major DLF Limited has entered into an agreement to sell a stake of 33.34% in its rental arm, DLF Cyber City Developers Limited (DCCDL) to Reco Diamond Private Limited, an associate of the Singapore sovereign wealth fund, GIC Group, in a multi-stage transaction for an aggregate value of US $1.9 billion. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) advised and acted on behalf of DLF Ltd, led by its transaction team headed by Delhi-based executive chairman Shardul Shroff, and partner Akila Agrawal, along with senior N ovember 2017 | L egal E ra | www . legaleraonline . com AZB & Partners acted as the legal advisor to GIC whereas Wadia Ghandy represented as legal advisor on real estate matters. The deal, estimated at a gross value of $1.9bn (`11,900 crores), involves a combination of secondary purchase of equity shares by the GIC affiliate for around $1.4bn (`8,900 crores) and two rounds of buyback for $0.5bn (`3,000 crores), to give effect to the agreed commercial terms. It is expected to conclude by November 2017.