Davis Polk is advising Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. on its acquisition of WIL Research for approximately $585 million. The transaction, which is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2016, is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Charles River provides products and services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and academic institutions to accelerate their research and drug development efforts. WIL Research is a provider of safety assessment and contract development (CDMO) and manufacturing services to biopharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial chemical companies.

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partner Michael Davis and associate Brian L. Friedman. Partner Michael Mollerus and associate Sarah Joy are providing tax advice. Partner Jeffrey P. Crandall and associate Geoffrey E. Walter are providing executive compensation advice. Partner Joseph P. Hadley and associate Rustin M. Brown are providing credit advice. Counsel Juliette Loget and associate Géraldine Fromage are providing advice on French law matters. Members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York and Paris offices.