Cuatrecasas advises on the €155m acquisition of the Dia group’s operations in Portugal

Cuatrecasas has advised Auchan on the acquisition of the entire Dia Group operation in Portugal, for a total value of €155 million, which was recently finalised following a non-opposition opinion from the Competition Authority.

The agreement between Auchan and Dia includes the 489 Minipreço and Mais Perto shops, including the franchising contracts, and establishes the integration of the Minipreço group’s 2,650 employees, reinforcing Auchan’s position in the proximity format. A number of assets necessary for the operation were also acquired, including the “Minipreço” brand, three warehouses, as well as contracts, licences and other assets.

Initially, the two companies will continue to operate in parallel in Portugal, with brand changes and systems integration taking place gradually.

Cuatrecasas lawyers Rafael Lucas Pires, who coordinated the Corporate and M&A team, Ana Sofia Simões (both pictured) and Filipa Teixeira Diniz, from the same area, Sara Quaresma and Gonçalo Nogueira, from the real estate and urban planning area, and Pedro Marques Bom and António Souto Moura, from the competition area, were involved in providing legal advice.