Founded in Paris in 1920, Gide is a leading international law firm with 12 offices spread throughout the world.
Gide is physically present in six regions of the world, with 11 offices, enabling it to act on cases globally.
8 October 2024
Deals | France | Competition & International Trade
Gide advised the agri-food group Avril, active in the oilseed products and animal activities sectors, in connection with the notification to the French Competition Authority of its acquisition of sole control of Axéréal Elevage (a subsidiary of the Axéréal cooperative group), specialising in the animal nutrition sector, which resulted in a Phase 1 clearance decision on 27 September 2024.
This clearance decision follows 15 months of in-depth analysis of the operation of the markets concerned and the potential effects of the transaction at national and regional level. As part of this process, the Authority questioned the parties' competitors and customers on the markets where their combined market shares were most significant, namely the market for the production and marketing of complete feeds for farm animals and the market for the collection of live poultry for slaughter.
Following a very detailed analysis, the Autorité ruled out any risk of the transaction harming competition, in particular after changing its decision-making practice regarding the definition of the relevant complete feed market.
The acquisition of Axéréal's animal nutrition activities marks a new stage in the Avril group's growth strategy and strengthens its territorial presence in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Centre-Val de Loire and Occitanie regions, where the 9 industrial sites of Axéréal Elevage, which has been renamed Tellus following the transaction, are located.
The Avril team that led the deal included Thomas Lemaitre (Group Deputy Director of Strategy and Development) and Thomas Mouzin (Deputy General Counsel).
The Gide team that represented Avril before the Autorité de la concurrence was made up of Emmanuel Reille, partner, Charles Terdjman, counsel and Marie Fleurisson and Apolline Thomann, associates.
Peltier Juvigny Marpeau & Associés advised Avril on the M&A aspects, with Benoit Marpeau, partner, Etienne Létang, counsel and Théo Damour, associate.
The Axéréal cooperative group was advised by BG2V - Stanislas Richoillez (M&A) and Nicolas Autet (competition), partners.
Economists Deloitte acted for the parties, with a team led by partner Gildas de Muizon, accompanied by Ignacio Inoa and Molly Simonet.
