Thomson Geer has helped two previously demerged drug research companies merge in a pioneering deal.
The firm advised on the $130m merger of the QBiotics Group, the first instance in Australia that two schemes were simultaneously proposed to merge two companies to a company group. The Federal Court’s approved the schemes at the end of July.
The deal involved the union of QBiotics Limited and EcoBiotics Limited with a new holding company called QBiotics Group Limited. EcoBiotics, which was founded in 2000 to research new drugs from the rainforests of north Queensland, established QBiotics in 2004 to focus on the development and commercialisation of a drug named EBC-46.
EBC-46 is being researched as a potential new treatment for certain cancers. It is derived from the seeds of the rainforest blushwood tree, which is endemic to north Queensland.
Thomson Geer said that lawyers from its Brisbane and Sydney offices were involved in the merger.
The firm’s Brisbane team was led by partners Roberta Bozzoli and Philip Byrnes. The team, which included partner Sylvia Fernandez, senior associate Nick Riordan, and lawyers Tom Honeywill and Danielle Stone, advised QBiotics Group Limited and QBiotics Limited on the implementation of the QBiotics Limited scheme.
The Sydney team, which included partners Dan Kramer and Ebru Davidson and special Counsel Sanushka Seomangal, advised EcoBiotics Limited on the EcoBiotics Limited scheme.
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