Simpson Thacher is representing funds managed by Blackstone in connection with its announced agreement to acquire a majority stake in CMIC Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s leading contract research organizations (“CRO”). Blackstone will acquire a 60% stake while CMIC HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. will retain the remaining 40% stake in the company.
CMIC, founded in 1992, was Japan’s first CRO. CMIC provides comprehensive end-to-end services across clinical trial phases and therapeutic areas and partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to help develop medicines and bring them to the market faster and more efficiently.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Anthony King, Sonya Ho and Jiang Zhao (M&A); Makiko Harunari and Chenyu Cui (Banking and Credit); Meredith Jones and Lina Pan (Tax); and Etienne Renaudeau and Pauline Patat (Antitrust).