Gerrit Oosterhuis
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Gerrit heads the Brussels office of Houthoff. He advises on Dutch and EU competition law as well as foreign direct investment screening (FDI).
Gerrit's competition law practice encompasses merger notifications, cartel investigations and stand-alone competition litigation. He also advises on complex distribution practices, joint ventures, and abuse of dominance.
He has considerable experience with notifications of complex transactions to the European Commission and the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, as well as to the authorities in charge of FDI screening. He regularly coordinates multiple notifications to authorities worldwide.
Gerrit represents clients from a wide range of sectors, specifically food, consumer products, energy and automotive
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“One client mentioned that 'He was very knowledgeable, very close to his clients, really on top of the business and very familiar with how the markets function'.”Chambers Europe, Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad (2024 Edition) -
“A client mentiones: ‘Gerrit Oosterhuis is a very experienced competition lawyer with strong advocacy skills who is able to get even the most tricky transaction approved’."Legal 500, EU and Competition (2024 Edition)
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Foreign Expertise in NetherlandsChambers Global, Competiton: EU - Belgium (2023 Edition)
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"A client mentions that: 'Gerrit Oosterhuis is very knowledgeable and customer friendly'."Chambers Global, Competiton: EU - Belgium (2023 Edition)
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"A client mentioned: 'Gerrit has a fine balance between professionalism and friendliness. I can ask him anything without hesitation and the answer is on point'."Chambers Europe, Competiton: EU - Belgium (2023 Edition)
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Foreign Expertise in NetherlandsChambers Global, Competiton: EU - Belgium (2022 Edition)
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“Clients say that his ‘thorough analysis’ is ‘insightful and important in decision making’.”Chambers Global & Europe, Competiton: EU - Belgium, Foreign Expertise (2022 Edition)
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“A client describes Gerrit Oosterhuis as ‘a true go-to lawyer who I would always recommend for competition law issues’, and ‘excellent in his field, very friendly and strong at analytical thinking’.”Legal 500, EU and Competition (2022 Edition)
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“He was always available for us and could always give good and reliable answers to our questions.”Legal 500, EU and Competition (2022 Edition)
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Foreign Expertise in NetherlandsChambers Global, Competiton: EU - Belgium (2021 Edition)
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“Clients appreciate his communication skills, asserting that ‘his analyses are easy to read and understand.’”Chambers Europe, Competition / European Law: Expertise Based Abroad Netherlands (2021 Edition)
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“Gerrit Oosterhuis is praised by clients for his ‘practical approach, his analyses, which are easy to read and understand, and his ability to provide answers quickly.’”Chambers Global, Competiton: EU - Belgium, Foreign Expertise (2021 Edition)
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"I work regularly with Gerrit Oosterhuis on a range of merger control and competition law matters. Gerrit is an excellent lawyer – expert, highly collaborative, and always delivers client-friendly commercial advice."Legal 500, EU and Competition (2021 Edition)
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“Gerrit Oosterhuis is described by interviewees as ‘very business-oriented, with strong economic and market analysis skills and an impressive clientele.’”Chambers Europe, Competition / European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad Netherlands (2020 Edition)
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RecommendedLegal 500, EU and Competition (2020 Edition)
Qualifications & Experience
- LL.M. International Law (cum laude) (Utrecht University)
- LL.M. Dutch Law (cum laude) (Utrecht University)
- Diploma (University College London)
- Diploma EU Competition Law (King's College London)
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Advised Castik Capital S.a.r.l. on the acquisition of paraDIGMA Group.
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Assisted Nexperia in relation to the Dutch Investment Screening Bureau's (BTI) retroactive investigation into the already completed acquisition of NOWI
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Advised Titan, a leading independent liquified biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) and LNG supplier to the maritime and industrial sectors, on a successful funding round leading to InfraVia obtaining (through one of its investment vehicles) a 45% equity stake in Titan.
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Advised, together with lead counsel Ropes & Gray International LLP, Bridgepoint Advisers II Limited as a local counsel on its acquisition of the SK AeroSafety group, specialising in maintenance, repair, overhaul and the design and manufacture of aerospace systems and components.
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Advised and represented, together with Noerr, European Bakery Bidco B.V., a portfolio company of 3i Group, on the purchase of the German coolback group
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Advised H2 Equity Partners on €142 million sale of the TB&C Group, a Germany-based leading provider of automotive high-voltage hybrid components that operates globally.
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Advised the (future) 50/50 joint venture between Sasol and Topsoe on the establishment and signing of a joint venture agreement solidifying both parties' commitment to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
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Advised Bridgepoint Advisers II Limited on its acquisition of the DataExpert group, a leading provider of products and services to combat cybercrime and fraud and deliver forensic and incident response solutions.
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Advised Sligro Food Group on the acquisition of the majority of wholesaler Metro’s activities in Belgium
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Assisted global semiconductor player Nexperia with its acquisition of Netherlands-based Nowi Energy
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Advised a subsidiary of DCC plc on its acquisition of all the shares in PVO International B.V. (PVO).
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Advised Ariston Holding N.V on the acquisition of CENTROTEC Climate Systems GmbH.
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Advised Van Oord Renewable Finance B.V. on the sale and transfer of its (approx.) 10% stake in Blauwwind Management II B.V. and Blauwwind Management II C.V. to a fund advised by Luxcara.
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Advised Provincie Zeeland on the unbundling of Evides B.V. from PZEM N.V. and the related sale of the shares held by PZEM N.V. in Evides N.V. to GBE Aqua B.V. and the financing thereof by BNG.
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Advised and represented Argos Wityu on the acquisition of Schenk Tanktransport.
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Advised H2 Equity Partners on the sale of Brink Group. Brink has more than 100 years of expertise in the manufacturing industry. The company’s product portfolio includes fixed, detachable, retractable and next generation towbars.
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Advised Platinum Equity on Landal GreenParks' sale to Roompot.
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Advised Veritas Capital, in cooperation with Skadden, on possible objections under the Economy and National Security Bill regarding its USD 3 billion acquisition of Cubic, a producer of C4ISR software for the US Army.
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Advised Torraspapel, part of the Lecta Group, on the acquisition of Avery Dennison's Offset Pressure Sensitive Sheet Business EMENA. Torraspapel will take over manufacturing and selling Avery Dennison's portfolio of FASSON™ and JAC™ branded self-adhesive papers in EMENA, which will allow Lecta to further expand its activities in specialty markets.
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Houthoff advised Zwanenberg Food Group on all competition law related aspects of its acquisition of Struik Foods Europe. Houthoff obtained clearance for the deal from the Dutch ACM and comfort from the CMA with the assistance of Travers Smith. This transaction creates a significant operator in the field of soups, sauces, preserves and convenience meals. Zwanenberg Food Group employs 1,600 people who together achieve net sales of € 420 million. Struik Foods Europe, which achieves annual sales of €120 million, employs 200 people. Houthoff's team was led by Gerrit Oosterhuis.
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Advised Arcis on the acquisition and transfer of all shares in Axender BV and the participation of Axender Holding in Arcis. As a result, Arcis is now a consortium consisting of four parties: Beheermaatschappij Em. De Jong BV, Print Nerds BV, Shatho Beheer BV and Axender Holding BV. Axender will continue under Spotta's name and deliver flyers to about 5.7 million households on a weekly basis.
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Advised the LOI, one the largest private educational institutions in the Netherlands, on the sale of the nearly 100-year-old family business to the NCOI, one of its close competitors.
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Advised Strik Bedrijven Beheer B.V. on the sale of 75% of the shares in Innovative Taste B.V. to Barentz International B.V.
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Houthoff advised Sligro Food Group N.V. with the proposed acquisition of the shares in Exploitatiemaatschappij Wheere B.V. by Sligro Food Group Nederland B.V. This will include the activities of Vroegop Ruhe & Co B.V., consisting of food wholesaler De Kweker, Vroegop AGF and freight company L.A.J. Duncker.
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Houthoff advised Navitas Capital on the sale and transfer of Partou to KidsFoundation. The owner of KidsFoundation – the English private equity firm Onex – will become the new owner of Partou, together with the Dutch private equity firm Waterland. Partou and KidsFoundation both provide child and toddler care services in the Netherlands, including day care, after-school care and pre-school/early childhood education facilities.
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Advised Sandd in the sale and transfer of Sandd to PostNL for an amount of EUR 130 million. This transaction resulted in the acquisition of almost the entire postal market by PostNL.
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Houthoff advised the shareholders (Waterland Private Equity and management) on the sale of the Infradata group to IK Investment Partners
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Represented Simadan in the sale of its businesses to Parcom Capital and John Swire & Sons. Parcom Capital will acquire the businesses Noba and Rotie. John Swire & Sons will acquire Biodiesel Amsterdam, Tankstorage Amsterdam and Cleaning & Services Amsterdam, a cleaning terminal for (bulk) trucks. The transactions are subject to Dutch and UK antitrust clearance.
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Represented Klaas Puul in its merger with Foppen Groep. Both Foppen and Klaas Puul are well known business in the salmon and shrimp processing industry and have long histories as family owned businesses in the food industry. The businesses have been in existence for respectively 100 and 50 years.
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Advised H2 Equity Partners on the sale of Reparenco, a Dutch paper and recycling business, to Smurfit Kappa Group plc for a cash consideration of approximately €460 million. Smurfit Kappa Group plc is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging products with operations in Europe and the Americas.
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Houthoff (co-counsel to Kirkland&Ellis and Dechert LLP, M&A, VDD) advised Wyndham Worldwide Corp on the sale of its European vacation rental business (Landal part) to private equity firm Platinum Equity for approximately USD1.3 billion.
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Represented Sandd in the acquisition of Van Straaten Post from its previous owners. The combined group is able to service the 24-, 48- and 72- hours postal market throughout the work week with national coverage. The acquisition is part of Sandd’s strategy to become a real alternative on the Dutch postal market.
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Houthoff advises Tofane Global on the acquisition of iBasis from KPN. This acquisition is the first milestone in the intended strategy of the Paris-based company. By means of acquisitions and digital transitions, Tofane Global aims to become the market leader in worldwide telephone services. After the completion of the acquisition, Tofane Global and iBasis will continue to work with KPN as strategic partners.
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A team from Houthoff led by Gerrit Oosterhuis secured clearance for the acquisition of an important production facility of Unilever by Zwanenberg, one of the leading Dutch producers of meat products.
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Assisted the AMC and VUmc hospitals in obtaining the required approval from the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) for an administrative merger. The approval enables the two Amsterdam-based university medical centres to cooperate on patient care, research, education and training without limitation. This will create the biggest university medical centre in the Netherlands.
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Houthoff represented Varo Energy in the acquisition of United Fuel Groep BV, which resulted in the expansion of Varo Energy's retail network with 22 retail service stations in the Eastern Netherlands and wholesale and lubricants business activities.
