Baleària and DFDS take over Armas Trasmediterránea’s business: Advisors

The shipping company Baleària has reached an agreement with the owners of Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea to acquire its operations in the Canary Islands and the Alboran Sea, along with part of the Strait of Gibraltar. Most of the Strait routes will go to the Danish group DFDS.

The transaction, pending authorization from the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), covers the management of 15 vessels, the operation of several maritime routes, and the transfer of around 1,500 employees on land and at sea.

The deal forms part of the restructuring of Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea and follows months of negotiations aimed at securing the continuity of its business activity.

Legal advice

Baleària was advised by DLA Piper, , with a team consisting of: Jose Maria Gil Robles (partner), Joaquin Hervada (partner, head), Beatriz de Basterrechea (legal director), Rafael Maldonado (senior associate), Miguel Higuero (associate), Carlos Tobias (associate), Remei Sanchez (counsel), Nerea Lopez (associate), Patricia Paez (legal director), Paz De la Iglesia (partner), Jose Maria Barrios (partner), Maria Velasco (associate), and Juan Verdugo (partner).

DFDS was advised by Uría Menéndez. The team consisted of Manuel Echenique (partner, corporate and M&A, Madrid). José Sánchez-Fayos (counsel, finance, insolvency, energy and transport, Madrid) and Andreea Croitor (senior associate in the same area and office). Tomás Arranz (partner, public law, litigation and arbitration, Madrid), together with Alberto Pérez and Jokin Beltrán de Lubiano (managing associates in the same practice). Daniel Cerrutti (partner, tax and employment, Madrid), accompanied by Belén Velasco (senior associate), Guillermo Canalejo (partner), Adrià Riba (counsel) and Eduardo González (senior associate). Juan Espinosa (counsel, public law, litigation and arbitration, Valencia) and Antonio Miguel de Lidón (senior associate in the same area and office). Finally, Patricia Leandro (counsel, public law, litigation and arbitration, Madrid), Ignacio Marín (associate in the same practice) and Claudia Viejo (associate, tax and employment, Madrid).

Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea was advised by Linklaters. The team was led by partners Ben Crosse and Carmen Burgos, with the support of Piotr Hurkała, Alina Martiniva, and Laura Plana Ventura.