Allen & Overy has advised Campari Group on the financing to support the cross-border acquisition of 70% of Wilderness Trail Distillery, premium craft distillery with a focus on making the highest quality bourbon and rye whiskey. The financing consists in a USD420 million credit line erogated in favour of Campari America LLC (company entirely controlled by Davide Campari-Milano N.V.) for a pool of banks comprising Bank of America, N.A., London Branch, BNP Paribas, Italian Branch, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Milan Branch and Cassa depositi e prestiti S.p.A..
Located in Danville, Kentucky, USA, Wilderness Trail was founded in 2012 and has an advanced and versatile operational infrastructure. Wilderness Trail super premium bourbon and rye whiskey range will further strengthen Campari Group’s brand portfolio leveraging one of the fastest growing spirit categories in the core US market.
A&O’s team was led by Banking partner Stefano Sennhauser, with senior associate Luca Maffia and associate Alessandro Carta Mantiglia, and counsel Elia Ferdinando Clarizia with associate Lino Ziliotti on tax aspects. Livia Talenti and Austin Lu of A&O New York advised on US law profiles and partner Femke Bierman, Kelly van der Vooren and associate Denny Fyrone of A&O Amsterdam advised on Dutch law aspects.
