Linklaters has advised SDIC Zhonglu Fruit Juice on the acquisition of Polish juice producer Appol Group from its Polish shareholders, marking SDIC’s first investment in the Polish FMCG sector.
Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed SDIC Zhonglu Fruit Juice forms part of the Chinese SDIC State Development & Investment Corporation, the largest Chinese state-owned investment holding company.
Appol Group has been present on the Polish and European markets for over 30 years, and Linklaters describes it as "recognized as among the leading apple juice producers in Europe." It owns and operates three production plants in Poland.
The transaction is subject to several conditions precedent, with completion expected in the first half of 2018.
Linklaters' Warsaw team was managed by Partner Tomasz Zorawski and Managing Associate Klaudia Krolak, supported by Associate Magdalena Szewczyk, Junior Associate Maciej Ficinski, and other lawyers from the firm's corporate, competition, employment, projects and IP practices, as well as lawyers in Linklaters’ Beijing office.
