April 6, 2018
Willkie represents IK Investment Partners in connection with its contemplated acquisition of a stake in Questel, a global leading provider of intellectual property information and management software and services.
On April 5, Willkie client IK Investment Partners announced that it had entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire, through its IK VII Fund, a stake in Questel, a global leading provider of intellectual property information and management software and services, from its current shareholders, including Capzanine, Raise, and Questel’s founders and management team.
Questel, a former division of France Telecom, offers IP Business Intelligence software allowing advanced research and analysis of patents, trademarks and designs, an IP Asset Management platform as well as international filing administrative services. The group employs nearly 215 people with offices in Europe, America and Asia and generated a turnover of approximately €45 million in 2017.
Willkie’s cross-border, multidisciplinary deal team is led by partner Eduardo Fernandez in Paris and includes national partner Grégory de Saxcé and associates Georges Balit, Loic Toilier and Pauline Ardanuy (corporate); Special European Counsel Philippe Grudé and associate Lucille Villié (tax); partner Paul Lombard (finance); national partner Faustine Viala and associate Laure Maes (competition) and associate Alexis Bessis (litigation). In New York, the team included partners Russell Pinilis (tax) and Sameer Advani (litigation) and associate Alexis Anzelone.
