CMS advises Pilatus on strategic pharma acquisition by Orifarm Group

International law firm CMS has advised the founders and management of Pilatus Group, a UK-based company specialising in comparator sourcing for clinical trials, on its acquisition by European pharmaceuticals company, Orifarm Group for an undisclosed amount.

CMS advised the Pilatus owners on all aspects of the transaction, which will see Orifarm absorb Pilatus’ Comparator Sourcing for Clinical Trials and Unlicensed Medicines business areas to complement Orifarm’s existing core business of Parallel Import and Generics. This is the second major transaction CMS has worked on with the team having also worked with them on their sale in 2012 of UK unlicensed medicines supplier UL Medicines to UK Quantum Pharmaceuticals.

Corporate partner Mark Bertram led the transaction for CMS in London. Mark commented: “It was a real pleasure to work with the Pilatus team again. Through their alliance with Orifarm Group, Pilatus will be part of what is fast becoming one of the leading players in this segment of the pharmaceuticals industry.”

Paul Smith, Director and Founder at Pilatus Group says: “Mark and the whole CMS team were superb and we were at every stage of this process delighted to have them working for us. Their advice was always technically spot on as well as pragmatic and commercial and most importantly they know how to get a deal done."

The CMS team also included of Counsel Kate Blumhof and Andrew Wheelhouse and Alex Dachenko (Corporate); Mark Joscelyne and Robert Sartor (Tax); Rachel Zani and Gina Young (Employment); Andrew Quayle (Share Schemes); Clare Huntley (Real Estate); and Jessica Mohaupt (Corporate, CMS Munich).