2020 M&A Annual Review

Morrison & Foerster is recognized for United Kingdom: M&A: Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals, $500M+. Legal 500 UK 2020 “The service we received has been top-notch; always professional, proactive, well thought out, and timely, especially when we had to deal with time differences and a tight timetable to finish the transaction.” Client Quote, Chambers Global 2020 TATE & LYLE Morrison & Foerster represented London-based Tate & Lyle PLC (LON: TATE), a leading global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, in connection with its acquisition of the remaining shares of Sweet Green Fields (SGF), a leading global stevia solutions business. Tate & Lyle began its partnership with SGF in 2017, becoming the exclusive global distributor of SGF’s portfolio of stevia-based ingredients and solutions, and then acquired a 15% equity holding in SGF the following year. The acquisition simplified the existing relationship by creating an integrated supply chain and commercial organization, unified research and development capabilities, and combined strengths to accelerate innovation and optimize production technologies. The acquisition also further strengthened Tate & Lyle’s position as a leading provider of innovative sweetener solutions with the capability to create foods and beverages that are lower in sugar and calories and with cleaner labels for customers around the world. The combination brought a broad portfolio of stevia products and an integrated stevia supply chain to Tate & Lyle, including leaf sourcing, leaf varietal development, established agricultural programs, and cost-efficient manufacturing. It also broadened Tate & Lyle’s presence in the rapidly developing Asia Pacific region with dedicated stevia production and research and development facilities located in Anji, China.