Global law firm DLA Piper has advised Japanese chemical manufacturer and
synthetic fibre producer Kuraray Co., Ltd. on the acquisition of Australian
company Plantic Technologies Limited.
Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Kuraray has a market capitalisation
of over AU$6 billion. Kuraray has acquired 100 percent of Australia-based
Plantic Technologies from a company controlled by Gordon Merchant, the founder
of Billabong, who purchased Plantic Technologies in 2010.
Plantic Technologies is a world leading innovator in bioplastics, and
has an international presence through subsidiaries in Germany and the United
Kingdom. Plantic Technologies has won several science and industry awards, and
has developed an international network of corporate customers and distributors,
as well as a growing list of premium quality multinational research and
development partners.
The DLA Piper team was led by partner Dr Gerry Bean and senior associate
Dylan Burke, with assistance from partners Monique Stella and Mark Burger,
senior associate Chris Neil, solicitor Asher Seifman and graduate Alex Moores.
Merchant was advised by Joseph Pace of Minter Ellison.