Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises China Jianyin Investment Limited, JIC Huawen Investment Limited and Tamar Alliance Capital on acquisition of Nature's Care

Beijing/Sydney: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised China Jianyin Investment Limited, JIC Huawen Investment Limited and Tamar Alliance Capital (the Consortium) on the acquisition of a majority stake in Australia's leading vitamins and supplements business, Nature's Care. Nature's Care owns leading brands such as Healthy Care, Nature’s Care Pro Series, Royal, Vitamore, VitAustralia, Leimei and Mei Mei Organic. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2018.

A joint team from Clifford Chance's Beijing and Sydney offices advised the Consortium on the acquisition and the related acquisition financing. The M&A team was jointly led by China co-managing partner Terence Foo, Sydney partner Lance Sacks, Beijing counsel Hong Zhang and Sydney counsel Amelia Horvath, who were supported by senior associate Janet Jiang and associate Tom Wong from Beijing and Sydney associates Ned Purcell and James Kwong. Acquisition financing was led by Australia managing partner Richard Gordon in Sydney and partner Timothy Democratis in Beijing, supported by counsel Alastair Gourlay and associate Victor Greenstreet in Sydney. Antitrust and regulatory advice was provided by Beijing counsel Bai Yong and associate Zibo Liu.

China co-managing partner, Terence Foo said "We are pleased to have advised China Jianyin Investment Limited and Tamar Alliance Capital on this significant transaction, which seeks to leverage the fast-growing demand for health and nutrition supplements in China and the region."

"Having recently advised on the successful acquisition of the iconic Brownes Dairy business by a consortium led by Shanghai listed Grounds Foods, the Nature's Care transaction builds on our team's outstanding record in China outbound / Australia inbound M&A transactions" added Lance.

In 2016, Clifford Chance advised Biostime (now renamed Health and Happiness), the Chinese infant formula producer on the acquisition and restructuring of Swisse Wellness, another leading Australian vitamins and supplements company.