Hall & Wilcox advises Amorepacific on acquisition of significant minority interest in Rationale
Leading independent business law firm Hall & Wilcox has advised Amorepacific, the world’s 12th largest cosmetics company, on its investment in Australian luxury skincare brand Rationale.
Hall & Wilcox was pleased to assist Amorepacific with the investment, which represents the beauty and cosmetic giant’s first investment in an Australian brand in the Australian market. Amorepacific is Korea’s leading beauty company with a portfolio of more than 20 cosmetics, personal care and health brands, including Sulwhasoo. Together with Amorepacific, Rationale now plans global expansion across South Korea, the UK, US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Hall & Wilcox provided advice on all aspects of the transaction, from preliminary stages, legal due diligence, negotiating the sale agreement and the shareholders’ deed for the ongoing voting rights and achieving successful completion of the transaction.
The Hall & Wilcox team assisted with the deal structuring, employment law, property law aspects and health law regulatory and compliance advice.
Corporate and Commercial partners Ed Paton and John Hutchinson, together with Senior Associate Chevi Levin, led the Hall & Wilcox team, which included a cross-practice collaboration of the firm’s corporate, employment and property groups.
Corporate and Commercial Partner Alison Choy Flannigan, who also leads the firm’s and Health and Community industry group, advised on regulatory and compliance matters, Employment Partner Mark Dunphy, supported by Lawyer Nhu-Thuy Dinh, advised on employment aspects in respect of over 100 staff. Property and Projects Partner Natalie Bannister and Special Counsel Nik Dragojlovic advised on the property aspects of the transaction with regard to the 15 stores, with Special Counsel Emily Kyriacou stepping in while Nik was deployed with the Army Reserve to help with the bushfire relief effort.
Commenting on the deal, M&A Partner Ed Paton said, ‘I am delighted that we were able to help Amorepacific acquire a significant minority interest in Rationale Group. The transaction will help strengthen Amorepacific’s luxury portfolio, as well as secure leadership in the personalised cosmetics category. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Amorepacific in Australia and working with such an innovative company.’
Hall & Wilcox is a leading independent Australian law firm of around 750 people including 85 partners delivering outstanding legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients, both Australian-based and those offshore doing business in Australia. Our Corporate and Commercial team is well known for servicing mid-market M&A transactions in Australia and globally. We are consistently recognised for helping clients to achieve outstanding commercial results. The Hall & Wilcox culture of ‘Better Together’ means that our firm is uniquely placed to work collaboratively on transactions, with seamless cross-practice interaction between our offices and teams, including corporate and commercial, banking and financial services, insurance, property and projects, commercial dispute resolution, tax, employment and industry group experts (including in healthcare, technology and insurance and financial services).