DLA Piper advises Buenavista Equity Partners on strategic acquisition of Chrestos

DLA Piper has advised Buenavista Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on the lower-middle-market-sector in the Iberian Peninsula, on its acquisition of Chrestos Concept GmbH & Co. KG. The acquisition was facilitated through Evidenze Group Europe (Evidenze), a leading healthcare services provider across Europe.

This acquisition aligns with Evidenze’s buy-and-build growth strategy, marking its ninth acquisition (six in Spain, one in Portugal, and one in Italy), and strengthens Evidenze’s position as a significant player in the healthcare services landscape. Evidenze aims to leverage synergies in client base and service offerings, creating a comprehensive service spectrum across clinical research, medical education, patient support programs, and consulting.

Headquartered in Essen, Germany, Chrestos Concept GmbH & Co. KG is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in the design and statistical analysis of clinical trials, primarily Investigator-Initiated Trials through its Chrestos Institute. The company is renowned for its expertise in statistics, data science, and natural sciences, and is committed to sustainability and climate-neutral practices.

The acquisition highlights DLA Piper’s capability to manage high-stakes, cross-border private equity transactions, particularly in the healthcare sector, solidifying its position as a leading advisor in Europe’s mid-market segment. The collaboration between the firm’s German and Spanish offices also showcases DLA Piper’s commitment to supporting growth-oriented clients in the evolving healthcare landscape.

DLA Piper’s international team successfully navigated the cross-border complexities of the transaction, drawing on cross-practice teams from Germany and Spain. The deal team was led by Corporate/M&A partner Dr Nils Krause and senior associate Rune Jelte Weltz (both Hamburg), alongside Corporate partner José María Gil-Robles and Legal Director Héctor Gómez Ferrero from Madrid.

In Germany, the team also included partners Dr Kai Bodenstedt (Employment) and Dr Justus Herrlinger (Antitrust, both Hamburg), Dr Konrad Rohde (Tax, Frankfurt), counsel Florian Jeske (Employment, Hamburg), Sven Bischoff (Tax, Frankfurt), Patrick Reuter, senior associate Emel Toluay-Ayhan (both Finance, Frankfurt), as well as associates Melanie Bierwirth (Corporate/M&A), Theresa Richter (Employment), Dr Jonas Kranz (Antitrust, all Hamburg), and Cennet Issenin (Finance, Frankfurt).