Linklaters advises Plastic Omnium on merger law on its proposed €290 million acquisition of 33.33% of HBPO

Linklaters has advised Plastic Omnium, with global revenue of €8 billion, on its proposed acquisition of 33.33% of the remaining shares of Hella in HBPO, the world's leading specialist in automotive front-end modules, for a purchase price of €290 million. This acquisition will enable Plastic Omnium to reach 100% ownership of HBPO, having worldwide revenue of €2 billion, with 31 plants and 2 800 employees.

This acquisition is part of Plastic Omnium's strategy to expand its existing solutions offering, while capitalising on the growing demand for electric vehicles.

For the third time in recent months, Linklaters' Antitrust and Foreign Investment team has been pleased to advise Plastic Omnium on merger control and foreign investment issues.

The completion of the transaction, signed on 28 July 2022, remains subject to the required regulatory approvals, expected by the end of 2022.

The Linklaters team was led from Paris by Anne Wachsmann, partner, Nicolas Zacharie, counsel, Violette Grac-Aubert, managing associate, and Anne Dos, associate in the Antitrust and Foreign Investment practice. The Antitrust teams of the Beijing, Shanghai (Fay Zhou and Arthur Peng) and Düsseldorf (Christoph Barth and David-Julien dos Santos Goncalves) offices were also involved.