BioDue (Riverside) Acquires Biokosmes and Rolf Kullgren in Strategic Expansion Move

The Riverside Company (Riverside), a global investment fund specialized in the mid-market segment, has acquired, through its portfolio company BioDue S.p.A. (BioDue), Biokosmes S.r.l. (Biokosmes) and Venture Life Manufacturing AB (Rolf Kullgren), as well as certain associated products and commercial agreements from Venture Life Group plc (VLG), a UK-listed company operating in the consumer health and wellness sector.

This transaction represents the second strategic add-on for BioDue following Riverside’s majority stake acquisition in 2023.

Bird & Bird assisted Riverside with an international team led by partner Giovanni Gazzaniga, who handled the M&A aspects of the transaction, supported by senior associate Nicolò Baruffi, associate Giorgio Cesari, and trainee Andrea Nespoli, as well as partner Afra Casiraghi, who, along with associate Elia Bellazzi, managed the post-closing commercial agreements between Biokosmes, Rolf Kullgren, and VLG, including a manufacturing and supply agreement and a transitional service agreement. Partner Simone Cadeddu and counsel Jacopo Nardelli took care of public law, regulatory matters, and foreign investment controls. Partner Federico Marini Balestra handled the antitrust aspects, while partner Gaetano Salvioli advised on tax matters.

Outside Italy, the team included, for the UK, partners Graeme Payne and Tom Snaith, senior associates Nicola Conway and Pieter Erasmus, and associate Kimberly Tan; in Sweden, counsel Caroline Grotenfelt and senior associate Michael Butler; in the Netherlands, partner Jeroen van der Lee.

Simmons & Simmons assisted VLG in Italy with a team led by partner Marco Muratore and composed of associate Federica Musacchia and trainee Carla Nuzzolo for corporate aspects; partner Marco Palanca and managing associate Davide Pellegrini for tax matters; partner Stefania Bergia for intellectual property aspects; partner Stefano Lava for employment matters; partner Mauro Pisapia and counsel Luigi Pontrelli for golden power issues; counsel Federico Perego for banking aspects; and counsel Riccardo Pennisi for antitrust profiles. Additionally, Simmons & Simmons’ international team was coordinated by partner Isabella Roberts.

A&O Shearman advised BioDue on the financial aspects of the transaction with a team led by counsel Frederic Demeulenaere, supported by senior associate Evangeline Schumacher, and with senior associate Sarah Capella and associate Edoardo Brugnoli for capital markets matters.

The international law firm White & Case assisted funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) in relation to the financing of the transaction, with a team including partners Stefano Bellani (Milan) and James Greene (London), along with associate Alessia Sommadossi (Milan).