Linklaters has advised BNP Paribas, HSBC and Nomura (as global coordinators and physical bookrunners) and joint bookrunners Credit Agricole CIB, Mizuho, Natixis, NatWest Markets and SMBC on the senior financing supporting CVC’s acquisition of a majority stake in Cooper Consumer Health and the lenders providing the second lien financing supporting the acquisition. The financing comprises a €920m cov-lite TLB, a €235m second lien facility and a €160 million revolver.

Cooper, a leading European independent over-the-counter drug manufacturer and distributor, is headquartered in Paris and was acquired by Charterhouse in 2016. Cooper is a pan-European pure-play OTC platform that manufactures and distributes a diversified portfolio of branded and basic products on an international basis. Cooper’s large, international platform has a direct presence in seven European markets and over 30 export markets. It has a wide-ranging and complementary portfolio of branded products, including OTC medicines, dietary supplements and medical devices, positioning Cooper as a “one stop shop” for its customers, which include pharmacies, wholesalers and drugstores.

As part of the transaction, Charterhouse will make a reinvestment in Cooper alongside CVC, which has partnered with Vemedia founder Yvan Vindevogel and specialised healthcare fund Avista Capital Partners and the management team.

The Linklaters team was led by partner Chris Medley alongside managing associate Rohan Saha, associate Monish Kulkarni and trainees Riddhima Wahi and Ryan Wei Shiung Poh. Partner David Irvine led the team advising the second lien lenders alongside managing associate Angus Graham, associate Shayan Hasan and trainee Cecilia Murray Brown.

The teams were supported by banking and tax teams in the firm’s Paris, Luxembourg, Milan and Amsterdam offices.