DLA Piper advises Flamingo, UK’s leading supplier of cut flowers, on the acquisition of the Bigot Group, a leading french flower grower and distributor

DLA Piper has advised Flamingo (a portfolio company Sun Capital UK), UK's leading grower and supplier of cut flowers, plants and vegetables, and number two in continental Europe, in connection of its acquisition of the Bigot group.

The Bigot group is a family-owned business with its headquarters based in the Sarthe region of France and is one of the leading French cut flower companies. The group employs 180 people in France.

Flamingo is a supplier of cut flowers and prepared vegetables to most of the UK’s leading retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Waitrose, and international customers in Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, Japan and Australia.

The merger will allow the Bigot group to expand its product portfolio providing them with capital to invest into their (digital) growth plan and strengthen their presence in the English, German, Scandinavian and Eastern European markets.

In turn, Flamingo will be granted better access to France’s cut flower market, the third largest in Europe.

The DLA Piper team was led by partners John Gallon and Matthieu Lampel, who were supported by senior associates Aymeric Robine, and Fabien Goudot.

Partner Jérôme Halphen and associate Anna Montenot advised on employment aspects of the transaction. Partner Denise Lebeau-Marianna and associate Alexandre Balducci advised on data protection aspects, Partner Gregory Tulquois and associate Valentin Deprez advised on contracts aspects, Partner Myriam Mejdoubi with counsel Gabriel Dalarun and associate Marie Lamy advised on real estate aspects, partner Jérôme Pentecoste, counsel Jean-Luc Heckenroth and associate Luc Armbruster on the public law aspects, and counsel David Alexandre (Luxembourg) advised on IP aspects.