PRESS RELEASE

Munich, 3 April 2019

honert has advised Apceth GmbH & Co. KG under the lead management of its majority shareholder Santo Holding (Deutschland) GmbH on the sale of Apceth Biopharma GmbH to the Japanese Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.

Apceth Biopharma GmbH is a leading provider of contract development and contract manufacturing (CDMO) in the field of advanced cell and gene therapies (ATMP) with highly modern manufacturing laboratories including clean rooms in Munich and Ottobrunn. The services of Apceth Biopharma GmbH include in particular product and process development as well as all related GMP services for all types of complex cell and gene therapeutics.

honert advised the sellers in the preliminary corporate restructuring process as well as in all areas of the transaction, including tax issues.

The transaction was completed at the beginning of April 2019.

Consultants on seller side:

honert (Munich): Sven Fritsche (M&A/Taxes), Kai-Klemens Wehlage (M&A/Corporate Law), Dr. Simon Busch (Taxes)

honert regularly advises companies and investors from pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries and has been advising Santo Holding (Deutschland) GmbH for years in corporate law matters as well as acquisitions and divestments.