Clifford Chance is advising Malaga Investment SCSp on its voluntary and conditional public takeover bid in cash for all outstanding shares of What’s Cooking Group NV.

Clifford Chance is advising Malaga Investment SCSp on its voluntary and conditional public takeover bid in cash for all outstanding shares of What’s Cooking Group NV, a Belgian listed European savoury fresh food group that commercialises a wide range of ready meal products (also known under the Come a casa® brand) and provides related professional food services across Europe and beyond.

Malaga Investment SCSp is an entity controlled by the Daniël Coopman family and Mr Eddy Van der Pluym, the long-standing reference shareholders of What’s Cooking Group NV. The transaction forms part of the client’s strategy to strengthen its shareholding in What’s Cooking Group NV and, if the bid is successful, to potentially delist the company through a simplified squeeze-out.

Clifford Chance advised on the structuring of the bid, including the use of a Luxembourg SCSp as the bid vehicle, as well as the financing of the bid and preparation of the bid prospectus and the FSMA approval process. We also supported the client on shareholder engagement to obtain tender commitments and managed the bid process.

The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Patrice Viaene (partner) and Gauthier Peemans (associate), with support from Niek De Pauw (partner), Gillis Waelkens (partner), Alexandre Ooms (partner), senior counsel Wim Aerts, counsel Thomas Linard de Guertechin and associates Yonathan Tison, Sherine Denisse and Céline Lievens.

For more information on the takeover bid, please refer to the press releases available on the website of What's Cooking Group NV: https://whatscooking.group/en/press-releases-and-publications/voluntary-and-conditional-public-takeover-bid

Press Contact : Marion Meunier