An article by Audrey Durand for GesKR

Geneva, 1 Decem­ber 2023Last Wednesday, 29 November 2023, CPIPG entered into a binding agreement for the sale of ski resort infrastructure assets in the Crans-Montana Mountain Resort valuated at more than of CHF 110 million. The deal covers approximately 84-percent ownership stake in Remontées Mécaniques Crans Montana Aminona (CMA) SA, which controls and runs all the resort's lifts, in addition to several other key assets and properties, including restaurant outlets and a ski school business. The seller, CPIPG – a leading real-estate portfolio company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange – is one of the largest owners of in­come-gen­er­at­ing real estate across Europe. The purchaser, Vail Resorts – a premier US-based mountain resort company listed on the New York Stock Exchange – operates ski resorts across North America, Switzerland and Australia. Partner Pascal Favre leads the CMS Corporate/M&A team in Geneva advising CPIPG and handling all legal aspects of this transaction on the seller-side. The team further includes Sr. Associate Audrey Durand, Associate Aye Al-Jarrah and Trainee David Müller. Our lawyers work across the table from Lenz & Staehelin's team led by Partner Beat Kühni and composed of Partners Tino Gaberthüel and Fabiano Menghini, as well as Associates Stephanie Buschta, Ann Francesca Weibel and Vincent Huynh Dac. CMS Switzer­land­Dr Pas­cal Favre, Lead Partner, Corporate / M&AAudrey Durand, Senior Associate, Corporate / M&AAye Al-Jar­rah, As­so­ci­ate, Corporate / M&ADavid Müller, Train­ee, Corporate / M&ALenz & Staehelin Beat Kühni, Lead PartnerTino Gaberthüel, PartnerFabiano Menghini, PartnerStephanie Buschta, Associate Ann Francesca Weibel, AssociateVincent Huynh Dac, Associate

GEODIS INTERNATIONAL, a world leader in transport and logistics, expanded its global footprint with the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Swiss freight forwarder, ITS - International Transport & Shipping Ltd. The deal, closed on 31 May 2023, takes GEODIS a step closer to completing its global end-to-end network. 

ProductLife Group, a leading multinational life sciences corporation with a global presence, expanded its footprint in Switzerland with the acquisition of a 100 percent interest in the Cilatus BioPharma Consulting AG (Cilatus) and its Irish subsidiary Cilatus Manufacturing Services Ltd. The deal closed on 10 May 2023.

Rankings of CMS Switzerland in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 Edition

We are happy to share that CMS Switzerland has advised WSP Global Inc. (TSX: WSP) on its acquisition of BG Bonnard & Gardel Holding SA, one of Switzerland's leading engineering consultancies, with a strong presence in France and subsidiaries in Italy and Portugal. This strategic deal will reinforce WSP's presence in the region and bolster its expertise in top three markets, including Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings and Earth & Environment. The CMS team was led by partner and head of Corporate/M&A in Geneva, Pascal Favre, and comprised Kevin Marcato, Francesca Scalco, Audrey Durand and David Müller. This cross-border transaction also involved CMS teams in France (lead partners: Arnaud Hugot, Caroline Froger-Michon et Claire Vannini), Italy (lead partner: Daniela Murer) and Portugal (lead partner: Francisco Xavier de Almeida).

 The global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions, DuPont (NYSE: DD), has divested on November 1, 2022, the majority of its former Mobility & Materials segment (the “M&M Divestiture”) to Celanese. Dr Pascal Favre led the Geneva team of CMS Switzerland who advised DuPont Switzerland and handled all aspects of the Swiss component of the M&M Divestiture. The team further comprised Audrey Durand, Kevin Marcato and David Müller. For more information on the transaction, please vis­it:  ht­tps://www. dupont. com/news/dupont-com­pletes-mo­bil­ity-ma­ter­i­als-di­vestit­ure-to-celanese. html

Vivalto Santé has acquired a majority stake in Groupe CIC Santé, a group founded in 2007 by Dr. Maire, which operates three clinics in Switzerland, specifically in canton of Vaud and Valais, as well as a stake in RXPM, a company also entirely owned by Dr. Maire which operates in the field of radiology. This transaction will allow Vivalto Santé to establish itself in Switzerland and to accelerate its significant international development. This investment, along with the resources that Vivalto Santé will mobilise, will enable Groupe CIC Santé to strengthen its organisation and continue to develop new clinics in line with patients' expectations. The CMS team advising on the French law aspects of this transaction consisted of Arnaud Hugot, partner, and Antoine Melchior, associate, for the corporate/M&A aspects and Laurent Hepp, partner, and Ambroise Roux, associate, for the tax aspects. The CMS team advising on the Swiss law aspects consisted of Dr. Pascal Favre, partner, and Audrey Durand, associate, for the Corporate/M&A aspects and Andrio Orler, partner, for the tax law aspects. Vivalto Santé was advised by PwC for the financial audit. The sellers were advised by Dupraz Sulc, represented by Timo Sulc, partner. CMS SwitzerlandDr Pascal Favre, Partner, Corporate/M&AAudrey Durand, Associate, Corporate/M&AAndrio Orler, Partner, Tax lawCMS FranceArnaud Hugot, Partner, Corporate/M&AAntoine Melchior, Associate, Corporate/M&ALaurent Hepp, Partner, Tax lawAmbroise Roux, Associate, Tax law

The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) announced its strategic partnership with Qatar Tourism at a press conference held on 25 August 2021 at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center. The parties have joined forces to develop and host a newly designed Qatar Geneva International Motor Show, whose first edition is expected for the fall of 2022 or 2023.

Apex Group Ltd., a global financial services provider, has announced the acquisition of ARM Swiss Representatives SA (“ASR”), a leading independent FINMA-regulated firm providing Swiss Representation and Distribution services to foreign fund managers.

CMS Switzerland advises in a strategic freight railcars partnership Dr Pascal Favre and his Geneva-based M&A team advised PRIO SA, a Swiss joint venture company in which SIG-i Capital AG, a private markets...

CMS Switzerland advised Crowdpark SA in connection with the set-up and launch of a crowdfunding platform focused on real estate investments. Crowdpark SA is a Geneva-based company proposing real estate...