Paine Schwartz Partners, LLC (PSP), a US private equity firm and global leader in sustainable food chain investing, will make a strategic investment in Hendrix Genetics, a Netherlands-based multi-species animal genetics company. PSP and its affiliated co-investors will hold 50% ownership in Hendrix and investment firm NPM Capital, a shareholder in Hendrix since 2015, will sell its minority interest. Hendrix Genetics' Co-Founders, Thijs Hendrix and Antoon van den Berg, will also maintain a 50% ownership position in Hendrix.The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2022, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. De Brauw and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to PSP.

De Brauw assisted Westlake Chemical Corporation in its acquisition the global epoxy business of Hexion Inc. for approximately USD 1.2 billion. Based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Hexion’s epoxy business is an industry leader in the manufacture and development of specialty resins, coatings and composites for a variety of industries, including high-growth and sustainability-oriented end-uses such as wind turbine blades and light-weight automotive structural components. In the twelve months ended September 30, 2021, Hexion’s epoxy business had net sales of approximately USD 1.5 billion. With this transaction, which is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2022 following customary closing conditions, Westlake will significantly expand its integrated business by adding a downstream portfolio of coatings and composite products to its leading chloro-vinyls businesses.

De Brauw advised Heineken on EU aspects of transactions to acquire control of Distell and Namibia Breweries.

Following CTP's successful IPO earlier this year, CTP is now entering the German logistics real estate market through a share-for-share public offer for Deutsche Industrie REIT-AG. The public offer is to be followed by a back-end cross border merger to ensure CTP acquires 100% ownership. De Brauw acted as counsel to CTP together with Sullivan & Cromwell.

De Brauw assists Gasunie with the issuance of its inaugural Sustainability-Linked BondN.V. Nederlandse Gasunie has successfully issued its inaugural Sustainability-Linked Bond (SLB). The issue amounts to EUR 300 million with a tenor of 15 years, maturing on 13 October 2036. Gasunie is the first company in the European gas transmission sector to issue a SLB. The bond was issued in accordance with Gasunie's recently published Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework, which follows the ICMA Sustainability-Linked Bonds Principles. The adoption of this framework is part of Gasunie's efforts to broaden its ESG financing sources.De Brauw is pleased to have been able to assist its long-term client Gasunie with the establishment of its Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework and incorporate this framework into the Euro Medium Term Note programme in the form of two ambitious ESG targets. This first-of-a-kind issuance for Gasunie underlines the broader market trend of an increased focus on the ESG aspects of financing arrangements. Next to the rise of sustainability-linked financing arrangements (in which the ESG performance is linked to certain financial consequences), there is also a lot of activity in the green bond market, where the proceeds are used for certain eligible green projects.

De Brauw successfully represented Westermeerwind Wind Farm - the largest Dutch near-shore wind farm, located in the Noordoostpolder and generating an amount of energy comparable to the consumption of 160,000 households - in objection proceedings and in appeal proceedings before the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (CBb) against the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. The case revolved around the government's intention to recover tens of millions of euro in subsidies for the wind farm, based on alleged non-compliance with state aid rules. On 26 April 2021, the CBb ordered the minister to recalculate the reduction in subsidy for the Westermeerwind wind farm, in favour of Westermeerwind.

De Brauw assisted GrandVision N.V. in relation to the recommended mandatory public offer launched by EssilorLuxottica S.A. The offer was launched on 7 October 2021 and values GrandVision at around EUR 7.2 billion.This mandatory public offer follows closing of the acquisition by EssilorLuxottica's of HAL Investment's majority stake in GrandVision N.V. on 1 July 2021, in relation to which De Brauw also assisted GrandVision.

On 1 October 2021, Akastor and Baker Hughes completed the establishment of a joint venture, creating a global full-service offshore and onshore drilling equipment company. The new company will be known as HMH and combines two of the best-known equipment manufactures in the industry. HMH aims to support the offshore drilling industry’s transition toward more energy-efficient solutions, as well as deploying technologies and service solutions to make the sector more competitive through increased drilling efficiency. Moreover, the Company’s service and technology portfolio will provide a solid foundation for future growth, both within drilling services and when pursuing opportunities towards adjacent industries such as renewables and mining.

De Brauw successfully represented Westermeerwind Wind Farm - the largest Dutch near-shore wind farm, located in the Noordoostpolder and generating an amount of energy comparable to what 160,000 households consume - in objection and in appeal proceedings before the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal (CBB) against the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. The case centred on the government's intention to recover tens of millions of euro in wind farm subsidies based on alleged non-compliance with state aid rules. On 26 April 2021, the CBB ordered a recalculation of the subsidy reduction in favour of the Westermeerwind wind farm.

De Brauw advised EQT Infrastructure V ("EQT V") and Stonepeak on their acquisition of DELTA Fiber from EQT Infrastructure III. DELTA Fiber is a leading owner and operator of fiber-to-the-home telecom infrastructure in the Netherlands. EQT V and Stonepeak will each hold a 50 percent stake in DELTA Fiber and co-control the company, supported by a strong advisory board of industry professionals.

De Brauw advised EQT Infrastructure V ("EQT V") and Stonepeak on their acquisition of DELTA Fiber from EQT Infrastructure III. DELTA Fiber is a leading owner and operator of fiber-to-the-home telecom infrastructure in the Netherlands. EQT V and Stonepeak will each hold a 50 percent stake in DELTA Fiber and co-control the company, supported by a strong advisory board of industry professionals. DELTA Fiber will benefit from the parties' significant combined expertise in the digital infrastructure sector and vast track record in fiber rollout across the Netherlands and Europe. Together, EQT V and Stonepeak are committed to investing significantly in the continued digitalisation of the Dutch society by accelerating DELTA Fiber's fiber rollout in the Netherlands and supporting its ambition to connect two million Dutch households to fiber by 2025. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and consultation with employee representatives.

TenneT is expanding the national high-voltage grid in the southwest of the Netherlands with its new connection Zuid-West 380 kV West (from Borssele to Rilland). One of the main reasons for the expansion of the grid is the ongoing growth of offshore wind power generation capacity off the Dutch southwest coast, as part of the 1.4 GW Borssele Wind Farm Zone. The new grid connection will allow for the avoidance of congestion on the high voltage grid once the wind farms are in operation and will facilitate transfer of green, offshore electricity to demand centres. In its entirety, the Zuidwest 380 kV project also supports increased connectivity of European electricity markets.