Legal advisor to Harbour BioMed on the acquisition of Harbour Antibodies.

The structure of a Dutch strategic investment should follow the investor’s operating objectives. Ownership, governance, funding commitments, liabilities and future acquisition rights determine whether a partnership, minority stake, joint venture or acquisition fits.

A corporate investment should identify which group entities provide funding, purchase products and deliver the proposed partnership. Dutch shareholding, commercial commitments and closing arrangements need to reflect those responsibilities.

W&I insurance and US R&W insurance serve a similar transaction purpose, but the interaction with Dutch warranties, disclosure and seller liability requires separate attention. This article explains underwriting, exclusions, retention, seller recourse, known risks and the relationship between the policy and the SPA.

Dutch and US acquisition agreements use similar warranty concepts, but disclosure and seller liability are structured differently in practice. This article explains general and specific disclosure, buyer and seller knowledge, materiality, caps, baskets, claim periods and the link between due diligence and warranty protection.

Dutch employee consultation can affect transaction structure and timing in ways that US buyers may not expect. This article explains works council advice, the SER Merger Code, employee transfer in asset deals and how these workstreams should be incorporated into signing and closing.

Dutch and US legal due diligence cover many of the same business risks, but the Dutch workstream requires different corporate records, employment analysis and transaction implementation. This article explains how Dutch counsel can fit into a US-led diligence process without duplicating lead counsel's work.