Â鶹ֱ²¥ & Lardner LLP served as principal legal advisor to Sun World International, LLC in its recent strategic acquisition of Biogold Group, a significant South Africa-based global fruit variety rights manager.
Sun World International is a global fruit variety development and licensing company, propelled by emerging technologies and rooted since its inception in the principles of sustainability. Sun World pioneered the development and licensing of seedless grape varietals and formalized its fruit genetics program more than three decades ago.
Trading as Citrogold in South Africa, Biogold is recognized as the preeminent global supplier of citrus genetics. In addition to its own formidable mango breeding program, Biogold manages significant rights to mango varieties developed by third-party breeders. Together with the breeders it represents, Biogold has the world’s largest mango collection and one of the world’s largest collections of avocado varieties.
With the acquisition of Biogold, the Sun World organization now specializes in table grapes, stone fruit, cherries, citrus, mangoes, and avocados.
The complex acquisition spanned multiple jurisdictions, including South Africa, the United Kingdom, Spain, Chile, and the United States. The U.S.-based Â鶹ֱ²¥ deal team was led by partner Christopher Rasmussen, with key M&A support from associates Sean Aguirre, Patricia Posada, and Amelia Dahl, and intellectual property support from partner Benny Berkowitz and Sun World relationship partner Mark Kassel.
