The deal shows the appetite for Chinese investment in high-quality Australian healthcare businesses
Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has advised on one of the largest private equity investments in Australia this year.
The global firm has advised the Wu family, the founders of Nature’s Care, in the sale of a majority of Nature’s Care equity to a consortium of Chinese companies made up of China Jianyin Investment (JIC) and Tamar Alliance Partners Fund I (Tamar).
Financial details of the deal remain confidential, but reports suggest that the deal valued Nature’s Care at nearly $800m. The deal is expected to close later this year, subject to regulatory approvals in China and Europe, and a green light from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.
NRF fielded a cross-border team to act on the deal. It was led by partner Richard Lewis. The Sydney-based corporate, M&A and private equity partner – who heads the firm’s private equity team – advised on all aspects of the trade sale.
“We have been tracking for many years the rising interest from Chinese business in Australian life sciences and healthcare industries, which are part of our global firm’s major areas of focus,” Lewis said. “The sale of Nature’s Care is illustrative of the appetite for Chinese investment in high quality Australian healthcare businesses. We’re pleased to have been able to bring together a high-quality cross-border team to assist the Wu family in this significant transaction.”
Lewis was assisted by special counsel Matthew Nelson, associate William Nicolson, and lawyers Andrew Robertson and Hugo Gotterson. Other lawyers in NRF’s Sydney, London, and Shanghai offices provided support.
