Clifford Chance advises the shareholders of Touton SA on the sale to Hartree Partners of the Touton group

The shareholders of Touton SA, a leading independent French soft commodity trading company, have entered into a firm agreement for the sale of the group to Hartree Partners, a global energy and commodities trading firm.

Founded in 1848, Touton has established itself as a key player in the trade of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, and spices. With over 700 employees across 14 subsidiaries and 7 processing and packaging sites, the company has consistently demonstrated operational resilience and deep market insight, underpinned by a long-standing commitment to sustainable sourcing.

Hartree Partners, LP is a leading global merchant commodities firm specializing in energy, commodities and associated industries. Hartree has over 27 years of experience in proprietary trading and principal investments. The firm employs over 4,600 individuals worldwide.

The completion of the transaction is subject to obtaining regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of conditions precedent.

The Clifford Chance team included Benjamin de Blegiers and Frédéric Giancarli, partners, Alice Declercq, counsel, Antoine Chomette and Charlotte Hershkovitch, associates, on the corporate/M&A aspects, Florence Aubonnet, partner, and Clémentine Marçais, associate, on the employment aspects, David Tayar, partner, and Camille Gautier, associate, on the antitrust aspects, Guilhem Dardoize, associate, on the finance aspects, Alice Dunoyer de Segonzac, counsel, and Adèle Rattier, associate, on the compliance aspects, Alexandre Manasterski, counsel, and Lisa Fournier, associate, on the tech and commercial contracts aspects, as well as Maëlle Viatte, associate, on the litigation aspects.