Clyde & Co advises Mitsubishi Corporation

The firm represented the corporation on its acquisition of a minority stake in Al Islami Foods, one of the leading frozen food companies in the GCC market.

Clyde & Co has advised Mitsubishi Corporation on its acquisition of a minority stake in Al Islami Foods, the UAE-based halal food manufacturer and one of the leading frozen food companies in the GCC market.

This investment by Mitsubishi Corporation will assist Al Islami Foods to grow in the HORECA (hotel, restaurant and catering) and food service space within the GCC region. It will also allow Al Islami to capitalise on Mitsubishi’s international distribution expertise in key markets, particularly in Asia. Al Islami Foods is a subsidiary of Dubai Cooperative Society.

Clyde & Co advised Mitsubishi on all aspects of the acquisition, including drafting and negotiating the transaction documents and corporate structuring issues. The transaction illustrates the ever-growing appetite for international players to invest in the Middle East region.

Jonathan Silver, corporate partner and chairman of Clyde & Co’s MENA Management Board commented, “This ground-breaking transaction marks the creation of a strategic partnership in halal food, one of the fastest growing sectors in the GCC. It underscores Clyde & Co’s commitment to support clients, in particular Asian corporations, in their inbound investments right across the region”.

The Clyde & Co team was led by Jonathan Silver and corporate partner Stephen McKenna with lead support from Senior Associate Rob Barrett. The transaction also drew on the resources of the firm’s regionally-based Real Estate, Employment and IP teams.