Linklaters has advised Cornerstone Investment Management, a CEE’s leading private equity investment management firm, which in cooperation with Kartesia, a European specialist financing provider, acquired Ecowipes, a leading European manufacturer of biodegradable wet wipes. This acquisition is highly significant to ESG strategy followed by both investors. Notably, Ecowipes is second in a row – after a joint acquisition of Okechamp/Lutece last year – ESG transaction executed by both PE houses.
Ecowipes has been one of the top European producers of innovative and fully biodegradable nonwoven products since 2011 and it has built an excellent reputation for quality, sustainability, and innovation. The company’s wide product portfolio comprises, among others, wipes, cosmetic pads and cotton buds which are produced in a modern factory in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki with technologically advanced machinery park. Ecowipes also cooperates with the largest retail chains in Europe, producing their private labels.
“It has been an immense privilege to advise and guide our client on this transaction. ESG issues are of key importance to Linklaters, and we are proud when we cooperate with sustainable and environmentally conscious businesses. This acquisition is a testament to the fact that businesses with a strong ESG focus can not only thrive but also drive significant positive impact on the world”
said Marcin Schulz, partner in the Linklaters Warsaw corporate practice.
The transaction was led by Marcin Schulz (partner), Klaudia Śliwka (managing associate), Michał Szperzyński (managing associate) and Natalia Burchardt-Mroczkowska (senior associate) from the Warsaw corporate practice.
The wider Warsaw advisory team included: corporate practice – Christopher Quinn (counsel), Łukasz Czerepak (senior associate) and Justyna Tuleja (associate); employment practice – Łukasz Burakowski (managing associate) and Jakub Korobczuk (junior associate); real estate practice – Maksymilian Hau (associate) and Aleksandra Mielniczuk (associate); antitrust & foreign investment practice – Małgorzata Szwaj (partner), Wojciech Podlasin (managing associate), Yuliia Stepanyk (associate) and Barbara Wanat (senior associate); TMT/IP practice – Szymon Sieniewicz (head of TMT/IP practice) and Daria Wojciechowska (associate).
The wider international advisory team included: Luxembourg corporate practice: Nicolas Gauzès (partner), Irene Sanna (managing associate), Nathalie Zurel (associate), Marion Chaudiere (junior associate), Ali Duarte Jaber (junior associate), Lucas Hieronimus (junior associate) and Zuleikha Abbasakoor-Aksener (legal project manager), Paris based members: Thomas Pontacq (counsel, corporate practice), Sandra Hoballah Campus (managing associate, energy & infrastructure practice), Clémentine Richard (managing associate, IP/TMT practice), Cécile Boulé (associate, employment practice), Géraldine Gonzalvez (associate, corporate practice), Virginie Guerineau (associate, real estate practice) and Marie Raynaud (associate, energy & infrastructure practice) and Düsseldorf based members: Kaan Gürer (counsel, antitrust & foreign investment practice) and Tim Heintze (associate, antitrust & foreign investment practice).
