Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has advised DDW The Color House (DDW), a global privately held company specializing in natural color solutions for the food and beverage industry, on its sale to Givaudan, a global leader in fragrances and flavors. DDW will add a wide range of natural colors to Givaudan’s already vast ingredient portfolio.
 
DDW was founded in 1865 to provide malt for brewing companies and, over the next 150 years, adapted to supply caramel color for the soft drink market, eventually expanding into Ireland, China, Eswatini, Brazil, Malaysia, and the UK. In 2003, DDW entered the world of natural food colors and has since added natural color facilities in the U.S., Ireland, and the UK to become one of the leading suppliers of natural colors around the world.
 
With its heritage stretching back over 250 years, Givaudan is committed to driving purpose-led, long-term growth while leading the way to improve happiness and health for people and nature through flavor and fragrance. In the fiscal year 2020, the company employed almost 16,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of 6.3 billion Swiss francs ($6.8 billion).
 
Ted Nixon, DDW’s Chairman, commented: “We were delighted to work with Paul and his global team at K&L Gates on this transformative transaction for DDW. The team is outstanding and pulled the rabbit out of the hat over and over again in getting this deal over the line. They are a very knowledgeable, tenacious, and hardworking team and collaborated quickly and effectively around the globe as we worked together to complete this transaction.”
 
The multidisciplinary, global deal team advising DDW was led by London partner Paul Tetlow and included London partner Jennifer Marsh; London senior associate Michal Kocon; London associate Niall Lavery; Pittsburgh partner Michelle McCreery; Chicago partner Brent Williams; Chicago associate Matthew King; New York partner Adam Tejeda; New York associate Chris Carson; New York associate Maria Nazarova; San Francisco partner Rikki Sapolich-Krol; Washington, D.C. counsel Kenneth Knox; Washington, D.C. associate Jason Semmes;  Shanghai partner Roberta Chang; and Shanghai associates Anita Zhou and Kate Chen, with support from additional lawyers across K&L Gates’ global platform.