DLA Piper advises Highlander Partners on sale of leading ingredients solutions provider FDL

DLA Piper has advised Highlander Partners, a Dallas-based private investment firm, on the sale of Fuerst Day Lawson (FDL), manufacturers and suppliers of premium-grade food ingredient and products, to Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE: ADM), a premier global human and animal nutrition company.

FDL, founded in 1884 and headquartered in London, is a leading ingredient solutions provider, specialized in the rapid development, formulation and manufacture of natural taste and nutrition solutions for applications across multiple product types and global end-markets.  It offers custom flavors, syrups and sauces, fruit preps, juices and juice blends, botanical extracts, bakery ingredients, energy and fortification blends and aroma chemicals, backed by deep applications development expertise.  FDL serves a global customer base with a presence in Europe, US, and Asia. 

A team from DLA Piper’s Leeds office worked on the transaction and was led by Corporate partner, Stephen Atkinson. He was supported by senior associate, Richard McGlasham, and associates, Emily Scrowston, and Alex Aveyard. DLA Piper has been a long-term advisor to Highlander Partners and FDL, most recently advising FDL on its acquisition of Quest Ingredients.

Chris McRorie, General Counsel of Highlander Partners, said: “We are pleased to have found a great home for FDL for the next stage of its development. DLA Piper managed the legal aspects of the process with the highest level of professionalism and dedication, guiding us with practical and effective advice to a successful result. DLA Piper’s global platform allowed them to handle all aspects of the transaction and navigate expectations between buyers and sellers based in multiple jurisdictions. We look forward to working with the team to completion of the transaction early next year.”