Hamburg — HEUKING has advised Five Arrows and CGE Partners (CGE) on their investment in Intact, a leading provider of end-to-end audit workflow software for certification bodies, standard setters and, more recently, enterprises. The management and the previous majority shareholder, technology investor IMCap Partners, will retain a stake in the company. Intact digitizes complex workflows in the certification processes. The company enables its customers to seamlessly manage all their core operational processes from audit planning and audit execution to certification approval and invoicing in a modular Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tool. CGE and Five Arrows are working with Thomas Lorber (co-founder and CEO of Intact) and his extended management team to support the next phase of Intact’s ambitious growth trajectory while maintaining its highly customer-centric approach.
The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. “We are delighted to welcome both Five Arrows and CGE Partners as investors in Intact. With their strong track record of fostering the growth and scaling of innovative technology companies, we are confident that this partnership will propel us forward. Together, we will further strengthen our capabilities by strategically investing in our products, services and international expansion, delivering even greater value to our customers, employees and stakeholders worldwide,” commented Thomas Lorber, co-founder and CEO of Intact. “We have been following Intact for several years and have been deeply impressed by the company’s development to date. It is rightly recognized as a leading provider of end-to-end audit workflow software and counts some of the largest and most demanding certification bodies and standard setters among its customers,” commented Five Arrows. “We are delighted to support the next phase of Intact’s exciting growth trajectory as certification bodies and standard setters look to modernize and digitize their workflows. We share the team’s vision that Intact can bring greater productivity, accuracy and transparency to the certification market,” commented CGE Partners. “At the time of our investment, Intact was a small, very specialized and highly innovative software company in the field of Testing, Inspection and Certification, which fits perfectly with our investment profile. Over the past six years, we have supported the company’s successful growth trajectory by investing in the organization and providing access to our network and operational expertise, all with a strong sense of partnership,” added IMCap Partners. Advisor Five Arrows: HEUKING Dr. Jörg Schewe, photo © Heuking (lead, M&A/corporate),
Dr. Henrik Lay (tax law),
Dr. Frederik Wiemer (antitrust law),
Christoph Prochnau (M&A/corporate), all Hamburg,
Martin Karwatzki, LL.M. (Insurance Law), Cologne,
Caroline Frohnwieser, Hamburg,
Sarah Radon, LL.M. (both M&A/Corporate), Düsseldorf,
Simon Pommer, LL.M. (Tax Law), Hamburg
Author: Tatjana Anderer
Chicago/ Frankfurt/ Munich — SubjectWell, a US-based provider of digital patient recruitment solutions, has acquired Trials24. This strategic partnership will provide patients worldwide with access to innovative forms of treatment. McDermott Will & Emery advised SubjectWell comprehensively on this transaction. Trials24, headquartered in Munich, accelerates patient recruitment for clinical trials worldwide and helps CROs and biopharmaceutical companies to find patients who are not within reach of their sites. CROs stands for Clinical Research Organization, which takes over tasks in the planning and execution of clinical trials. SubjectWell is a portfolio company of Windrose Health Investors. Windrose invests in companies that specialize in services in the healthcare industry and acquired SubjectWell in April 2024.
Advisor SubjectWell: McDermott Will & Emery
Holger Ebersberger (Munich), Dr. Felix Ganzer, photo © MWE (Frankfurt; both lead), Jarrett Szczesny (Chicago; all Private Equity), Jana Grieb (Healthcare), Dr. Christian Rolf (Employment), Dr. Florian Schiefer (Tax; all Frankfurt), Dr. Claus Färber (Counsel, IT, Munich); Associates: Dr. Armin Teymouri (Private Equity, Munich), Dr. Lea Hachmeister (Healthcare), Constanze Götz (Public Law; both Frankfurt), Janek Joosten (Employment Law, Düsseldorf) With over 160 lawyers in 21 offices, McDermott’s Private Equity practice is one of the most active PE law firms worldwide. The practice has been ranked among the top 5 PE firms in healthcare by Pitchbook for six consecutive years and is among the top 10 for PE buyouts and other PE deals. Bloomberg ranks McDermott among the Top 10 Global Mid-Market PE Firms, while The Deal ranks the firm 7th among PE Law Firms. Further information can be found at pe.mwe.com.
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a leading international law firm with more than 1,400 lawyers in more than 20 offices in Europe, North America and Asia. Our lawyers cover the entire spectrum of commercial and corporate law with their advice. The German practice is managed by McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP. https://www.mwe.com/de/
Milan/London/Paris/Munich — Ambienta SGR SpA (“Ambienta”) announces that its platform company Cap Vert Group (“Cap Vert”), one of the French market leaders in pruning, has acquired N2B Arrosage (“N2B Arrosage”). N2B Arrosage is also based in France and specializes in the management of irrigation systems for urban green spaces. Ambienta is one of the largest and leading asset managers in Europe with a focus on environmental sustainability. N2B Arrosage designs, installs and maintains irrigation systems. The company was founded in 1986, is based in the capital region of Île-de-France and employs more than 30 people. N2B Arrosage is an established player in the Île-de-France region, serving a large number of private customers. With the acquisition of N2B Arrosage, Cap Vert is expanding its water division and significantly broadening its offering for private customers in this market segment. The market for irrigation systems is growing continuously. This growth is mainly driven by municipalities that are expanding green spaces and other unsealed areas in response to global warming in order to achieve a cooling effect in cities. The acquisition of N2B Arrosage strengthens Cap Vert’s ability to respond to these needs and manage large-scale projects. The Cap Vert Group, in line with Ambienta’s investment strategy, contributes positively to the company’s environmental impact metrics — reducing CO2 emissions, preserving biodiversity and, thanks to the acquisition of N2B Arrosage, saving water. Smart automatic irrigation enables an optimized water flow taking into account parameters such as temperature and humidity; for urban green spaces, smart automatic irrigation also contributes to the preservation of vegetation and biodiversity as well as to lowering the temperature through water evaporation and transpiration of plants. This also indirectly reduces CO2 emissions, as less air conditioning and ventilation of indoor spaces is required by lowering the outdoor temperature. Eric Girot, CEO of Cap Vert, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome N2B Arrosage to the Cap Vert Group. We are confident that this partnership will significantly strengthen our service offering and client portfolio by combining our market leadership with N2B’s expertise in water management.” Gwenaëlle Le Ho Daguzan, Partner at Ambienta, added: “The acquisition of N2B Arrosage fits perfectly with our long-term strategy for Cap Vert, seamlessly aligning with our ambition to expand the Group’s presence in promising markets such as water management, while enhancing the overall service portfolio. This transaction underlines our commitment to sustainable growth through targeted acquisitions that deliver real value to Cap Vert’s customers and partners.” About Ambienta
Ambienta is a European environmental sustainability investor specializing in private equity, public markets and private credit.
Eric Girot, CEO of Cap Vert, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome N2B Arrosage to the Cap Vert Group. We are confident that this partnership will significantly strengthen our service offering and client portfolio by combining our market leadership with N2B’s expertise in water management.”
From Milan, London, Paris and Munich, Ambienta manages assets of more than 3 billion euros. The focus is on investing in private and publicly traded companies that are driven by environmental megatrends and whose products or services improve resource efficiency and environmental protection. Ambienta has made 75 private equity investments to date. In the public equity sector, Ambienta has launched one of the world’s largest absolute return funds fully focused on environmental sustainability and manages a whole range of other sustainable investment products from low-risk multi-asset funds to long-only equity funds. Ambienta has also recently launched a private credit strategy, which — as with the other asset classes — focuses on environmental sustainability. www.ambientasgr.com
Leverkusen — The state-owned oil company Adnoc from the United Arab Emirates intends to take over the German plastics group Covestro for 11.7 billion euros.
Adnoc is offering 62 euros per share and also plans to buy new shares worth almost 1.2 billion euros via a capital increase.
Leverkusen-based Bayer floated its plastics division Covestro on the stock exchange in 2015 and cashed in.
Arab investors are now interested in the German company.
The state-owned oil company Adnoc from the United Arab Emirates wants to take over the German plastics group Covestro.
According to its own statements, the potential Arab buyer is offering 62 euros per share and valuing the shares in the DAX-listed company at 11.7 billion euros.
The company from Abu Dhabi is also considering buying shares worth almost EUR 1.2 billion from the Leverkusen-based company in a capital increase.
Together with Covestro’s debt of around three billion euros, Adnoc therefore intends to invest almost 16 billion euros.
The takeover had been expected for some time.
Covestro’s management supports the offer.
The company will be acquired from its existing majority owner Partners Group, one of the largest private markets investment managers acting on behalf of its clients, and co-investors CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
The total value of the transaction is EUR 6.7 billion.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
The purchase price will be paid in two tranches, one at closing of the transaction and the remaining amount in July 2027.
TPG Rise Climate is one of the world’s largest private equity funds for global climate solutions and invests in companies that are significantly driving decarbonization.
Techem represents the largest transaction for the fund to date.
GIC is making a significant minority investment.
— Linklaters advised the fund TPG Rise Climate and the investor GIC on the acquisition of the Techem Group.
Founded in 1952, Techem has built one of the largest digital energy services platforms in the industry.
Techem is active in 18 countries and services more than 13 million homes with over 62 million digital meters.
As a reliable, long-term partner, Techem supports the real estate industry and private landlords in improving their energy efficiency in a low-investment and ‑invasive manner and in sustainably reducing energy consumption, costs and CO2 emissions.
Techem’s services help to drive the long-term decarbonization of the real estate sector, which accounts for around 40% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions worldwide.
Looking ahead, he says: “Techem has developed into a leading provider of a broad range of digital solutions with strong growth and a powerful, agile organization. We are very grateful to Partners Group and its co-investors CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’ for their trust and collaboration in developing the company over the past years and look forward to building on this success with TPG and GIC.” “Techem’s technology, transparent consumption data and optimized solutions for tenants, managers and owners are making a significant contribution to reducing costs and improving the environmental impact of properties across Europe,” says
Ed Beckley, Managing Partner of TPG Rise Climate, based in London.
“Energy consumption in buildings could be significantly reduced if efficiency and demand were better managed. We look forward to supporting the Techem team in driving and accelerating the reduction of real estate emissions at scale.” Ang Eng Seng, Chief Investment Officer, Infrastructure at GICsays: “Techem is an established energy service provider with a proven track record. Building level metering is increasingly in demand in continental Europe as consumers and regulators continue to focus on energy efficiency. We look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth together with TPG and its management.” Further expanding a strong digital platform Thanks to its strong development in recent years, Techem has exceeded the one billion euro revenue mark — with further growth potential through new digital services and an increasingly comprehensive decarbonization offering.
Techem will build on this foundation with its new partners TPG and GIC and further expand its ‘One Digital Platform’ in order to tap into considerable energy efficiency potential in the building sector through extensive digitalization, optimize operational processes and increase the living comfort of residents.
Techem will also benefit from TPG’s expertise in effective decarbonization in achieving its own ambitious sustainability goals and thus build on the successful efforts of the previous year.
As recently as August, Techem received an outstanding rating of 9.6 — “Negligible Risk” — in an ESG risk rating from Morningstar Sustainalytics, a global provider of ESG data, studies and ratings.
This puts Techem in the top 3 percent of over 16,000 international companies assessed. Advisors to the funds TPG Rise Climate and GIC: Linklaters lead counsel Andreas Müller and Dr. Ralph Drebes (both partners, Private Equity/M&A, Frankfurt).
About Techem Techem is a leading service provider for smart and sustainable buildings.
The company’s services cover the topics of energy management and resource protection, healthy living and process efficiency in real estate.
The company was founded in 1952, is now active in 18 countries with over 4,000 employees and services more than 13 million homes.
Techem offers increased efficiency along the entire value chain of heat and water in real estate as well as regenerative supply concepts and solutions.
As the market leader in the wireless remote recording of energy consumption in homes, Techem continues to drive forward networking and digital processes in real estate.
Modern multi-sensor devices and wireless smoke alarms with remote inspection, metering point operation, charging infrastructure for electromobility and services for improving the quality of drinking water in properties complete the portfolio of solutions for the residential and commercial real estate industry.
For more information, please visitwww.techem.comÜber TPG Rise Climate TPG Rise Climate is the specialized climate investment strategy of TPG’s global impact investing platform, which has USD 19 billion under management.
TPG Rise Climate makes climate-related investments that benefit from the deep expertise of TPG’s investment professionals, strategic relationships with climate-focused companies in the existing TPG portfolio, and a global network of executives and advisors.
The fund takes a broad approach to investment types, from growth equity to value-added infrastructure, and focuses on climate solutions in the following themes: clean electrons, clean molecules and materials, and negative emissions.
For more information, please visit www.therisefund.com/tpgriseclimate. About GIC GIC is a leading global investment company established in 1981 to secure Singapore’s financial future.
As the manager of Singapore’s foreign reserves, we take a long-term, disciplined investment approach and are uniquely positioned globally across a wide range of asset classes and active strategies.
These include equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, venture capital and infrastructure.
Our long-term approach, multi-asset capabilities and global network make us an investor of choice.
We strive to add significant value to our investments.
Headquartered in Singapore, we have a global talent group of over 2,300 employees in 11 major financial cities and invest in over 40 countries.
www.gic.com.sg About Partners Group Partners Group is a leading global private markets investment manager with around 1,800 professionals and approximately USD 150 billion in assets under management.
The firm offers investment programs and customized offerings in private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate and royalties.
With its roots in Switzerland and its US headquarters in Colorado, Partners Group stands out from other firms in the industry. The company uses its differentiated culture and operationally focused approach to identify attractive investment opportunities and develop companies and assets into market leaders. www.partnersgroup.com
The round was led by new investors Notion Capital and Porsche SE.
Existing investors also participated again.
Quantum Systems has developed a clear competitive advantage through its state-of-the-art drones with integrated artificial intelligence (AI).
By combining hardware, software and AI, the company is transforming business operations and improving efficiency in various industries, including mining, construction, agriculture, utilities, public safety and defense.
In all of these sectors, the collection, analysis and processing of sensor data from the air offers decisive advantages.
With the additional funds of almost 40 million euros now raised — the original Series B brought Quantum Systems 63.3 million euros — the Munich-based company intends to drive forward its global expansion and invest in the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) and software.
The capital will enable the company to expand its production capacities and invest more in research and development.
In addition to Notion Capital and Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the existing investors also participated again.
Porsche SE should not be confused with Porsche AG: While SE is responsible for the asset management of the Porsche Piech family, AG is responsible for the automobile production of sports cars as a subsidiary of the VW Group. About Quantum Systems Quantum Systems specializes in the development, design and production of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS).
The company’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are designed for maximum flight endurance and versatility, providing users with a seamless user experience.
Integrating cutting-edge software capabilities such as edge computing and real-time AI-powered data processing, Quantum Systems builds next-generation UAS for security, defense, public safety, commercial and geographic operations customers across Europe.
www.quantum-systems.com.
In October 2023, the YPOG team has already advised Quantum Systems on the first round of Series B financing.
Advisors Quantum Systems: Dr. Adrian Haase (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Hamburg Dr. Benjamin Ullrich (Transactions), Partner, Berlin Alexandra Steifensand (Transactions), Associate, Berlin/Hamburg Dr. Gerrit Breetholt (Transactions), Associate, Hamburg About YPOG YPOG is a specialist law firm for tax and commercial law, active in the core areas of funds, tax, banking + finance and transactions.
The YPOG team advises a wide variety of clients. These include emerging technology companies and family-run medium-sized enterprises as well as corporations and private equity/venture capital funds. YPOG is one of the leading addresses for venture capital, private equity and fund structuring in Germany. The firm and its partners are recognized nationally and internationally by JUVE, Best Lawyers, Legal 500, Focus, Chambers and Partners and Leaders League.
Möglingen (D)/ London (UK) — Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment company with more than $160 billion in assets under management, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the USU product business.
— The combination of Thoma Bravo’s extensive experience and investment expertise in software with USU’s product portfolio is expected to accelerate the company’s growth and development of innovative solutions for customers.
The existing management team will continue to lead the USU product business.
The transaction is Thoma Bravo’s second investment in Germany within a year and demonstrates the company’s commitment to the German enterprise software market.
— Benjamin Strehl, currently Co-CEO of USU Software AG, will become CEO of the USU product business.
Bernhard Oberschmidt becomes a member of the Management Board.
The USU product business provides customers worldwide with IT management solutions for managing different IT environments and workflows.
As a strategic partner, the company enables its customers to reduce costs, increase productivity and manage growing technological complexity.
Thoma Bravo will support the USU product business with its extensive network and industry experience to expand its product portfolio and geographical presence.
The aim is to establish the USU product business as a leading pan-European provider of IT management solutions.
“With its expertise in software, a culture of collaboration and a passion to invest in transformative technologies, Thoma Bravo is the right partner to expand our offering and support our growth ambitions. Together we can create more value for our customers by further developing the USU platform and our range of IT solutions and expanding our partner program,” said Bernhard Oberschmidt, CEO of USU Software AG. “We are very excited to invest in USU. We want to build on the company’s impressive development, strong commitment to its customers and product focus, and support the team as it continues to scale,” said David Tse, Senior Vice President at Thoma Bravo.
“We look forward to working with Bernhard, Benjamin and the entire team to further grow the business through innovation and M&A.” “Our investment in USU is the second transaction in the DACH region within a year. We see Germany as a significant growth market with strong technologies and are excited to support this ecosystem with another investment,” said Irina Hemmers (photo © Thoma Bravo), Partner at Thoma Bravo.
“Thoma Bravo’s investment in the USU product business fits perfectly with our strategy of partnering with market-leading software companies to drive transformative growth.”
Thoma Bravo will invest in the USU product business alongside USU Software AG to accelerate the company’s growth.
USU founder Udo Strehl and the Strehl family will also remain involved in the USU product business and help shape its further growth trajectory.
The business with leading products for IT service management, IT asset management, IT operations management and knowledge management will be managed as an independent unit in the future.
The transaction is part of Thoma Bravo’s strategic expansion in the German market and underlines its focus on investing in the growth of innovative software companies across Europe.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Advisor USU: USU was advised by Guggenheim as sole investment banker, Heuking as legal advisor and RSM Ebner Stolz with the financial fact book.
Thoma Bravo is supported by Raymond James as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis as legal advisor. About Thoma Bravo Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software investors in the world with more than $160 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. With private equity, growth equity and credit strategies, the company invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Thoma Bravo leverages its deep industry knowledge and proven strategic and operational capabilities to partner with its portfolio companies to implement best practices in operations and drive growth initiatives.
Over the past 20+ years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 490 companies with an enterprise value of over $265 billion, including both controlling and non-controlling investments. The company has branches in Chicago, London, Miami, New York and San Francisco. thomabravo.com. About USU Software AG As a leading provider of software and services for IT and customer service management, USU enables organizations to master the demands of today’s digital world.
Global organizations use our solutions to cut costs, become more agile and reduce risk — with smarter services, simpler workflows and better collaboration.
With more than 45 years of experience and locations worldwide, the USU team brings customers into the future.
The USU Digital Consulting business unit remains a wholly owned subsidiary of USU Software AG.
http://www.usu.com
Hamburg — EIC Fund is investing in the start-up MindPeak GmbH together with German lead investor ZEISS Ventures, Hamburg-based InnoVentureFund, APEX Ventures and AI.Fund, among others.
The investment was made as an equity investment as part of a Series A financing round under the “Horizon Europe Program”.
The financing round had a total volume of 15.3 million US dollars.
EIC was comprehensively advised by Oppenhoff on this transaction. MindPeak, based in Hamburg, develops automation tools for image diagnosis using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and deep learning.
The tools are based on AI algorithms and support cancer experts in making reliable diagnoses. The EIC Fund is the special fund of the European Innovation Council and thus the central investment vehicle of the European Commission. It serves to implement the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program, which supports innovative and sustainable European growth companies. The EIC Fund is advised by the European Investment Bank. The EIC (European Innovation Council) was founded in the context of the pilot project “Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation” and was successfully continued in 2021 with the launch of the “Horizon Europe Programme”. With a duration from 2021 to 2027 and a total budget of up to €95.5 billion, it is one of the largest funding programs for research and innovation worldwide. In 2023, the EIC Fund supported over 100 investment rounds in deep tech companies and secured co-investments from 280 other investors worth EUR 1.2 billion.
Oppenhoff has regularly advised the EIC Fund on its investments in German start-ups since 2021. Advisor EIC: Oppenhoff & Partner lead Dr. Carolin Roßkothen and Myriam Baars-Schilling, photo (both Corporate / M&A),Dr.
Martin Bialluch (Corporate) and Dr. Fee Mäder (IP).
Oppenhoff regularly advises companies in the venture capital sector, most recently advising the EIC Fund on a USD 62 million Series A financing round of Reverion, on the EUR 53 million Series B financing round of Infinite Roots and SellerX on the acquisition of KW-Commerce. About Oppenhoff & Partner The full-service law firm Oppenhoff develops industry-specific solutions for national and international corporations, large owner-managed companies, institutions, strategic investors and financial investors.
More than 100 lawyers advise clients throughout Germany in all important areas of commercial and tax law. Oppenhoff & Partner Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater mbB (“Oppenhoff”) is a partnership company registered in the partnership register of the Essen Local Court with the registration number PR 1850 and its registered office in Cologne. A list of the partners authorized to represent the company is available at https://www.oppenhoff.eu/de/allgemeine-seiten/impressum.html.
Cologne — CVC Capital Partners Fund VII has sold its 20% minority stake in DKV Mobility Group SE and terminated its five-year partnership with the owner family.
CVC was advised by HEUKING on this transaction.
HEUKING also provided advice on stock corporation law, transaction financing and regulatory advice on banking supervisory law and merger control aspects.
DKV Mobility is a leading B2B platform for on-the-road payments and solutions, serving more than 374,000 business-to-business customers from the truck and fleet sector in more than 50 countries.
In 2023, the company generated a transaction volume of 17 billion euros and a turnover of 714 million euros.
CVC is a leading global private markets manager, with a focus on private equity, secondaries, credit and infrastructure and a global network of 30 local offices in Europe, Asia and the US with EUR 193 billion in assets under management.
Heuking partner Dr. Oliver von Rosenberg
(Photo © Heuking), LL.M., has been working with CVC Capital Partners for 20 years on a large number of transactions. These include in particular the investment in DKV Mobility Group, the acquisition of Douglas from Advent, the sale of ista Group to Charterhouse for EUR 2.4 billion, the acquisition of a stake in Evonik Industries for EUR 2.4 billion and the subsequent IPO of Evonik with joint venture partner RAG-Stiftung, the acquisition of Ruhrgas Industries/Elster Group for EUR 1.5 billion and the subsequent sale in a public takeover offer and in 2023 the acquisition of BORCO Group by Stock Spirits Group, a portfolio company of CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII.
Advisor CVC Capital Partners: HEUKING
Dr. Oliver von Rosenberg, LL.M. (lead), Dr. Alexander Jüngst, Mark Rossbroich, LL.M. (all M&A/private equity), all Cologne. Raphael Schorlemer (M&A / Private Equity), Cologne; Dr. Frederik Wiemer (Antitrust), Hamburg; Michael Neises; Dr. André Hofmann, LL.M., Dr. Christoph Gringel, Christian Staps, Thalia Roth (all Banking & Finance), all Frankfurt.
Berlin/ Frankfurt a.M. — McDermott Will & Emery has advised Aukera Energy on the acquisition of a photovoltaic project in Rhineland-Palatinate by way of a share deal.
The seller is a German renewable energy project developer.
The PV project is expected to have a capacity of 46 MW for photovoltaics and 40 MW for a battery energy storage system (BESS).
It is expected to be ready for construction by the first quarter of 2025.
Aukera EnergyAukera Energy focuses on the development, construction and operation of solar, wind and battery storage projects.
Headquartered in Brussels with offices in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Rome and Bucharest, the company is currently developing a pipeline of 15 GW.
McDermott’s Energy & Infrastructure team regularly advises on a wide range of projects and transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors and on issues relating to the energy transition.
Advising on renewable energy projects (including storage and other energy transition issues) is a particular focus of the team. About Aukera Energy Aukera is backed by AtlasInvest, a leading private investor with a focus on the energy sector.
“We specialize in renewable energy investments and development in Europe, from early stage development and co-development to the acquisition of ready-to-build projects and the construction of the projects themselves. We are committed to local communities.”
Aukera’s management team has been working together for over ten years and has decades of combined experience in developing renewable energy projects around the world.
Our team has completed more than one hundred renewable energy investments and co-developments.
These include successfully developing and exiting the UK’s largest feed-in tariff wind power business in 2018 and working with Malaysian state-owned utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad on a $250 million transaction.
https://www.aukera.energy Advisors Aukera Energy: McDermott Will & Emery, Frankfurt Dr. Maximilian Uibeleisen, Dr. Simon Groneberg (Counsel, Düsseldorf; both Energy & Infrastructure), Dr. Maximilian Meyer (Counsel, Tax); Associates: Jan Ischreyt, Constanze Götz (both Energy & Infrastructure) About McDermott Will & Emery McDermott Will & Emery is a leading international law firm with over 1,400 lawyers in more than 20 offices in Europe, North America and Asia. Our lawyers cover the entire spectrum of commercial and corporate law with their advice. The German practice is managed by McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP. For more information, please visit: https://www.mwe.com/de/
Wetzlar / Göppingen / Wollerau (CH) — Nachfolgekontor, in association with sonntag corporate finance, has advised the owner family of MAIBACH Verkehrssicherheits- und Lärmschutzeinrichtungen GmbH (“MAIBACH”) in the course of a succession plan by the new owner NOLEX AG (“NOLEX”).
MAIBACH was founded in 1946 with its headquarters in Göppingen, Baden-Württemberg, and has since positioned itself as a leading specialist for traffic safety and noise protection equipment in Germany.
With its three largely independently operating divisions — Traffic Safety, Reptile and Amphibian Protection and Noise Protection Systems — MAIBACH offers its customers a wide range of innovative and high-quality products as well as services and installation work.
MAIBACH’s long-standing customer base includes, in particular, companies from the traffic safety and (road) construction sectors. New owner for further growth As part of an age-related succession, the owner family is now handing over the companies MAIBACH VUL GmbH, based in Göppingen, MAIBACH AUS GmbH, based in Strobl am Wolfgangsee, and MAIBACH VUL GmbH, based in St. Gallen, to the new owner NOLEX.
The Swiss investment holding company based in Wollerau (CH) has focused on the long-term development of medium-sized companies in Switzerland, southern Germany and Vorarlberg (AT).
“We are delighted to have found a new, strong partner in NOLEX, who will take MAIBACH’s previous success story to a new level in the long term and with comprehensive expertise,” says Hans-Dieter Maibach. Strategic succession planning is becoming increasingly important For the Nachfolgekontor project team, led by Julian Will, Dennis Minnert and Sebastian Ringleb, the takeover marks the 22nd transaction they have supported this year.
“MAIBACH operates in a dynamic market environment in which strategic corporate decisions are becoming increasingly important alongside technical innovations. Road safety technologies must be continuously developed in order to keep pace with the requirements of automated and connected driving. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to find ecologically compatible solutions that ensure both the protection of amphibians and the reduction of traffic noise,” explains Dennis Minnert, Senior Associate at Nachfolgekontor.
Julian Will, Managing Director at Nachfolgekontor, adds: “A successful succession plan is crucial not only to secure a sustainable market position, but also to drive forward the long-term development of the company. We are therefore all the more pleased that in NOLEX we have been able to identify the ideal partner for our client, with whose support MAIBACH can once again expand its pioneering role within the industry.” About Nachfolgekontor and sonntag corporate finance Nachfolgekontor GmbH, together with sonntag corporate finance GmbH, is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in the German SME sector. The team of almost 30 experts accompanies medium-sized entrepreneurs exclusively through the entire sales process. “Our task is to safeguard life’s work,” is how we see ourselves. In doing so, customers benefit from a unique approach that has won multiple awards from the business press, and which protects the identity of their companies to a special degree. Thanks to their excellent access to medium-sized companies, Nachfolgekontor and sonntag corporate finance have also established themselves as a strong partner at the side of renowned national and international major companies and investors in acquisitions. This is also demonstrated by the top position recently achieved at the Mergermarket League Table. With a total of ten accompanied transactions in the first quarter of 2024, the M&A consultancy ranks first in Germany.
www.nachfolgekontor.de | www.sonntagcf.com About MAIBACH Verkehrssicherheits- und Lärmschutzeinrichtungen GmbH MAIBACH.com/ About Nolex www.nolex.ch
Munich — Airbus Ventures, one of the most prolific investors in space startups, has launched a USD 155 million fund to be deployed in the emerging space sector as well as the broader “deep tech” ecosystem.
Airbus Ventures currently has USD 465 million under management, with Fund‑Y being the fourth fund launched to date.
“This fund is to explore new opportunities, and space is one of them,” Thomas d’Halluin, Managing Partner of Airbus Ventures, told CNBC.
— The move comes at a time when investment in the space industry, particularly from venture capitalists, is recovering after two lean years.
Airbus Ventures’ new “Fund‑Y” targets long-term opportunities in early-stage deep tech startups, which d’Halluin defines as “going back to the laws of physics and not being afraid of what’s hard.”
Historically, “deep tech” is a classification for companies working on technologies that face major scientific or technical obstacles.
— While Airbus Ventures has traditionally deployed the majority of its funding in the U.S., d’Halluin explained that Fund‑Y is intended to be global in scope.
In particular, he sees “very strong momentum” for space startups in Europe and Japan.
Founded in 2016, Airbus Ventures takes a different approach to traditional venture capital firms.
The company keeps its distance from its namesake company, the European aerospace company, and more than half of its Fund‑Y comes from external capital such as institutional investors, private equity and family offices.
About a third of the capital provided by Airbus Ventures so far has gone to the space sector, it said, backing 14 pure-play companies in the space, including startup Impulse, lunar cargo company ispace and tracking service LeoLabs.
“This is about patience. Often, and too often, people want instant wins. Space is not a place of instant gratification,” said d’Halluin.
He emphasized the importance of funding founders with the “extremely rare” trait of great execution and highlighted Airbus Ventures’ support for Impulse.
The startup was founded by Tom Mueller, who is known for developing SpaceX’s rocket engines.
“Impulse was successful in its first mission thanks to Tom’s 17 years of experience at SpaceX,” said d’Halluin.
“This element of human capital that is often neglected in deep tech diligence — this notion of who captures the execution, knowledge and skills in a particular company — is what we focus on,” he added.
Cologne — YPOG provided comprehensive legal advice to REWE Group in connection with the $150 million financing round of the Berlin-based express delivery service Flink.
The total amount consists of $115 million equity and $35 million debt.
In addition to existing investors such as Bond, Northzone and Mubadala, various new investors also participated in the round.
At the same time, Flink has entered into a strategic partnership with Just Eat Takeaway, and a partnership with REWE Group has been in place since 2021.
These partnerships enable Flink to further integrate its services in Europe and thus expand its market presence in Europe.
As part of its expansion strategy, Flink plans to open 30 new locations over the next 12 months to expand its range of fast delivery services and reach more customers. About REWE Group The cooperative REWE Group is one of the leading retail and tourism groups in Germany and Europe.
In 2023, the company achieved a total external turnover of over €92 billion.
Founded in 1927, REWE Group is present in 21 European countries with around 390,000 employees.
Johannes Janning’s team has advised REWE Group several times in the past, including on the €58 million financing round of Infinite Roots and most recently on the $61 million financing round of Formo.
Advisors REWE: YPOG Dr. Johannes Janning (Lead, Transactions), Partner, Cologne; Matthias Kresser (Venture Debt), Partner, Berlin/Hamburg; Laura Franke (Transactions), Senior Project Lawyer, Cologne; Nina Ahlert (Transactions), Senior Associate, Cologne; Dr. Matthias Schatz (Corporate), Partner, Cologne; Dr. Malte Bergmann (Tax), Partner, Hamburg; Dr. Benedikt Flöter (IP/IT/Data Protection), Associated Partner, Berlin The in-house team of REWE Group was led by Dr. Ulrich Fleischer (Senior Legal Counsel — M&A and Financing).
About YPOG YPOG is a law firm specializing in tax and commercial law, active in the core areas of funds, tax, banking + finance and transactions.
The YPOG team advises a wide variety of clients. These include emerging technology companies and family-run medium-sized enterprises as well as corporations and private equity/venture capital funds. YPOG is one of the leading addresses for venture capital, private equity and fund structuring in Germany. The firm and its partners are ranked nationally and internationally by JUVE, Best Lawyers, Legal 500, Focus, Chambers and Partners and Leaders League. Today, YPOG employs more than 120 experienced lawyers, tax consultants, tax specialists and a notary in three offices in Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. www.ypog.law
Frankfurt a. M. — Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has advised Insight Partners on the $54 million Series B financing round of Qualifyze GmbH (“Qualifyze”) with participation of existing investors HV Capital, HarbourVest Partners, H14 and Cherry Ventures. Qualifyze, based in Frankfurt am Main, operates an integrated audit management platform that simplifies compliance audits for life sciences companies and serves over 1,200 pharmaceutical and healthcare companies worldwide.
The platform provides a centralized system to manage all aspects of audits and ensures the highest quality and compliance standards for clients across the industry. Insight Partners is a global software investor that partners with high-growth technology, software and internet startups and scale-up companies that are driving transformative change in their industries.
Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies globally and had over $80 billion in regulatory assets under management as of December 31, 2023.
Willkie advised on all aspects of the transaction, KNPZ Rechtsanwälte advised on IP, IT and data protection issues Advisors on the transaction: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP The Willkie team was led by partner Miriam Steets (Corporate/M&A/Venture Capital, Munich) and included partners Matthew Haddad (Corporate/M&A/Venture Capital, New York), Dr. Patrick Meiisel (Tax, Frankfurt) and Andrew Silberstein (Tax, New York), counsel Wulf Kring (Tax, Frankfurt) and Martin Waskowski (Employment, Frankfurt) as well as associates Denise Kammerer (Frankfurt), David Strätling (Munich), Marie Moellering (Frankfurt), Luca Fuhrmann (Frankfurt), Nils Hörnig (Munich) (all Corporate/M&A), Sascha Winkler (Employment, Frankfurt), Dr. Laurin Havlik (Compliance, Munich) and Marcel Seemaier (Tax, Frankfurt).
About Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading legal solutions to complex, business-critical issues that span markets and industries.
Our approximately 1,200 lawyers in 15 offices worldwide provide innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services in approximately 45 practice areas.
Find out more at www.willkie.com. The KNPZ team comprised partner Dr. Kai-Uwe Plath as well as senior associates Matthias Struck and Jan Schäfer and associates Moritz Schmitz and Julius Hildebrandt (all Hamburg).
Hamburg — The Hamburg-based Ufenau Capital subsidiary The Relevance Group GmbH (TRG) has acquired IMG Interactive Marketing Group GmbH.
A GÖRG team led by Frankfurt partners Dr. Tobias Fenck and Markus Beyer provided The Relevance Group with comprehensive legal and tax advice on the transaction.
Founded by Jürgen Rösger, Hamburg-based IMG GmbH has established itself as a high-end consulting agency for digital growth since 2014.
It specializes in supporting internationally active branded goods and service providers (particularly from the fast-moving consumer goods, automotive, retail, telecommunications, IT and communications industries), in particular in the development and implementation of new forms of consumer communication, especially in the area of mobile communication and advertising.
The company also acts as a “task force” and “think tank” for the top marketing management of sales-oriented industries.
Its clients include Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Glasfaser.
TRG is a European group of companies of a fund advised by Ufenau Capital Partners.
It was founded in Hamburg in 2022 and is a provider of data-driven sales and marketing optimization.
IMG is already the sixth partner company in the rapidly growing TRG and significantly enriches the group’s portfolio in the areas of digital business, customer experience, organic growth and data analytics.
In addition to IMG, TRG’s network of experts includes five other specialized partner companies in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland: Datalogue Group, DataLab GmbH, Converto AG, Markteffect and DirectResearch.
Under the leadership of GROUP CEO Andreas Hannemann, CFO Jan Kaeten and CPO Peter Joachim Fiegel, TRG aims to become Europe’s leading partner for data-driven relevance.
The expansion is supported by the Swiss investor group Ufenau Capital Partners.
GÖRG advised TRG on the acquisition of IMG, including corporate, tax, employment and IT law.
In this context, the team led by Dr. Tobias Fenck and Markus Beyer had already successfully advised Ufenau on its investment in Datalogue. Advisor to The Relevance Group GmbH: GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB
Dr. Tobias Fenck, Foto (Lead, Partner, Corporate Law/M&A, Frankfurt am Main) Markus Beyer, LL.M. (Lead, Partner, Corporate Law/M&A, Frankfurt am Main) Dr. Adalbert Rödding, LL.M. (Partner, Tax, Cologne) Jonas Hain (Associate, Corporate Law/M&A, Frankfurt am Main) Dr. Karl-Georg Küsters, LL.B., LL.M. Taxation (Associate Partner, Tax, Cologne) Philipp Albert (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt am Main) Fabienne Lampe, M.mel. (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Hamburg) Florian Seidl (Associate, Employment Law, Frankfurt am Main) Dr. Valentin Zipfel (Associate, IP,IT, Commercial, Frankfurt am Main) About Ufenau Capital Partners Ufenau Capital Partners is an independent Swiss investment group based on Lake Zurich.
It focuses on majority investments in service companies in the DACH region as well as Spain, Portugal, Poland, Benelux and the UK, which are active in the areas of business services, healthcare, IT services, education and financial services.
Since 2011, Ufenau has invested in >350 service companies in Europe.
With an extensive circle of renowned and experienced industry partners (owners, CEOs, CFOs), Ufenau Capital Partners pursues an active value-added investment approach at eye level with the entrepreneurs.
Ufenau manages EUR 3.0 billion in assets under management.
Hattingen/Uelzen — The Rivean subsidiary TonerPartner Group, one of the leading online retailers of printer ink and toner in Europe, is strengthening its market position by acquiring its competitor Trensco.
Rivean Capital has owned the TonerPartner Group since 2021.
— TonerPartner acquires 100 percent of Trensco GmbH und Co KG in Uelzen with its sales brands HD Toner and HQ-Fit.
This creates the largest German online distributor in this sector with around one million active customers and an annual turnover of over 100 million euros.
Following the acquisition of the French provider SAS Rousselle.com in 2021 and the purchase of Druckerpatronen.de one year later, the TonerPartner Group is thus continuing its dynamic growth.
“HD Toner serves an impressive number of private and business customers. We see strong growth potential for the company through optimized, AI-supported online marketing, synergies in purchasing and the marketing of our sustainable products under our own ‘Green Line’ brand to HD Toner customers,” says TonerPartner Group CEO Morten Severon.
He adds: “With products relating to sport and fitness, which are sold under HQ-Fit, the Uelzen-based company has successfully established a second mainstay that is also of interest to the TonerPartner Group.”
The Trensco products will continue to be sold under the established HD Toner and HQ-Fit brands.
“The TonerPartner Group provides Trensco with completely new growth opportunities. Together with the TonerPartner Group’s strong brands, a highly professional sales platform and excellent know-how, we know that Trensco and its employees are in the best hands,” emphasize Anja and Patric Weiß, founders and managing directors of Trensco.
“With the acquisition of Trensco, Rivean Capital is investing further in the TonerPartner platform and significantly expanding its market position. This is another example of Rivean Capital’s role as a growth partner for entrepreneurs in the SME sector,” says Andreas Klab, Partner and Head of Rivean Capital’s German office. Rivean Capital has owned the TonerPartner Group since 2021. Relocation of logistics from Hattingen to Uelzen in 2025 The TonerPartner Group’s administrative location will remain in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The logistics center will move to Uelzen, where Trensco has its own warehouse.
The lease for the logistics warehouse in Hattingen (North Rhine-Westphalia) will expire in the middle of next year due to the landlord’s new development plans. About Rivean Capital Rivean Capital is a leading European private equity investor for mid-market transactions with activities in the DACH region, the Benelux countries and Italy.
Funds advised by Rivean Capital manage assets in excess of €5 billion.
Since its foundation in 1982, Rivean Capital has supported more than 250 companies in realizing their growth targets.
In Germany, Rivean Capital is invested in the following companies in addition to TonerPartner: Dataciders, Green Mobility Holding, ]init[ AG für digitale Kommunikation and Best4Tires.
www.riveancapital.com
Cologne — Oppenhoff has once again comprehensively advised the EIC Fund on its German investments.
This time, the EIC Fund invested in the Munich-based start-up Reverion GmbH together with the US lead investor Energy Impact Partners (EIP) and Honda Motor, among others.
The existing investors Extantia Capital, UVC Partners, Green Generation Fund, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures and Possible Ventures were also involved in the financing round.
The investment was made as an equity investment as part of a Series A financing round under the “Horizon Europe Program”.
The oversubscribed financing round had a total volume of around 62 million US dollars.
Reverion is a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich.
The ClimateTech company builds reversible, CO2-negative power plants using an innovative high-temperature fuel cell system.
It thus realizes carbon-negative and emission-reducing energy generation. The EIC Fund is the special fund of the European Innovation Council and thus the central investment vehicle of the European Commission. It serves to implement the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program, which supports innovative and sustainable European growth companies. The EIC Fund is advised by the European Investment Bank. The EIC (European Innovation Council) was founded in the context of the pilot project “Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation” and was successfully continued in 2021 with the launch of the “Horizon Europe Programme”. With a duration from 2021 to 2027 and a total budget of up to €95.5 billion, it is one of the largest funding programs for research and innovation worldwide. In 2023, the EIC Fund supported over 100 investment rounds in deep tech companies and secured co-investments from 280 other investors worth EUR 1.2 billion.
Oppenhoff has regularly advised the EIC Fund on its investments in German start-ups since 2021. Advisor EIC Fund: Oppenhoff & Partner lead Dr. Carolin Roßkothen (Corporate / M&A); Dr. Maike Mestmäcker (Corporate), Dr. Patric Mau (IP), Marvin Rochner (Real Estate) and Dr. Carsten Bormann (Regulatory).
Oppenhoff regularly advises companies in the field of venture capital, most recently for example the EIC Fund on the 53 million Euro Series B financing round of Infinite Roots or on the investment in the tech start-up STABL Energy as well as SellerX on the acquisition of KW-Commerce and BeyondBuild on the strategic merger of spaceOS and Equiem Holdings. About Oppenhoff & Partner The full-service law firm Oppenhoff develops industry-specific solutions for national and international corporations, large owner-managed companies, institutions, strategic investors and financial investors.
More than 100 lawyers advise clients throughout Germany in all important areas of commercial and tax law. Oppenhoff & Partner Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater mbB (“Oppenhoff”) is a partnership company registered in the partnership register of the Essen Local Court with the registration number PR 1850 and its registered office in Cologne.
Munich — SKW Schwarz has advised the Munich-based software developer Probis Software GmbH on an investment by JLL Spark Global Ventures.
In the course of a Series A financing round, JLL Spark invested the largest share of the participating investors.
Munich-based Probis offers cloud-based software for multi-project controlling in the real estate and finance sectors.
Since its foundation in 2022, the company has completed up to 1,000 projects annually.
JLL Spark Global Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).
Since June 2018, JLL Spark has invested over USD 390 million in more than 50 early-stage proptechs.
SKW Schwarz had already advised Probis Software GmbH in 2022 on the entry of the investor EKK. Advisor Probis Software GmbH: SKW Schwarz, Munich Dr. Martin Böttger, photo © SKW (Corporate/M&A, lead), Dr. Daniel Meßmer (IT); Associates: Christine Wärl (Corporate/M&A), Tamara Ulm (Employment)
Cologne — Oppenhoff has advised the Saint-Gobain Group on the sale of the automotive supplier FREEGLASS GmbH & Co. KG to Hannover Finanz as part of a carve-out.
Saint-Gobain is a global supplier of materials and solutions used in the construction sector, among others.
In Germany, the company is primarily known for its leading building material brands ISOVER, Rigips, Weber and Ecophon as well as for its glass production.
As an international partner to the automotive industry, FREEGLASS develops and produces three-dimensional plastic components at its plant near Stuttgart.
Its products include windows and covers with innovative products that enable the integration of functions and sensors.
The company employs 120 people and produces around two million components per year. Advisor Saint-Gobain Group: Oppenhoff & Partner led by Myriam Baars-Schilling and Sebastian Gutmann included Maike Mestmäcker (all Corporate / M&A), Dr. Gunnar Knorr (Tax) and Dr. Stefanie Minzenmay (Real Estate).
Advisor Saint-Gobain Group : Oppenhoff & Partner has been advising on transactions of national and international companies as well as on corporate law matters for decades.
The M&A team, which has received numerous awards in industry handbooks, recently advised the Wilms Group on the sale of Südkabel, the Iveco Group on an agreement with Mutares to transfer the MAGIRUS Group, SnowWorld on the complete takeover of Alpenpark Neuss and the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB on the acquisition of Go-Ahead Deutschland.
The in-house Saint-Gobain team consisted of Matthias Zenner, Eva Beutin and Henrik von Wietersheim.
Berlin — Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Kommunalkredit Austria AG on the financing of thermondo GmbH in the amount of EUR 20 million for the acquisition of the solar energy company FeBeSol GmbH.
The financing consists of a fixed term loan facility in the amount of EUR 17 million and a revolving term loan facility in the amount of EUR 3 million.
Berlin-based thermondo GmbH is Germany’s largest heat pump installer with over 600 permanent employees.
Since it was founded in 2013, the company says it has replaced over 50,000 heating systems in Germany with heat pumps.
thermondo is backed by Canadian investor Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and German investors E.ON, HV Capital, Vorwerk, Rocket Internet and 10x.
FeBeSol GmbH, based in Sankt Leon-Rot in southern Germany, is a solar energy company founded in 2009 that supports its customers from planning and application to the installation and maintenance of solar systems.
To date, the company has installed more than 6,000 photovoltaic systems in Germany and abroad.
The acquisition of FeBeSol makes thermondo one of the top 10 players on the German photovoltaic market and consolidates its leading position on the German B2C heat pump market.
Kommunalkredit Austria AG, based in Vienna, is a specialist bank for infrastructure and energy financing in Europe.
From the provision of debt and subordinated capital to mezzanine and bridge financing and equity, the company offers flexible financing solutions across the entire capital structure. Kommunalkredit Austria was advised by an international team from Norton Rose Fulbright led by Frankfurt partner Dr. Bernhard Fiedler (Banking/Finance).
In addition, the team consisted of Jan Peter Weiland (Counsel, London), Lenka Michalko (Senior Associate), Kristina Thielemann (Associate) (both Frankfurt, Banking/Finance) as well as Bernd Dreier (Partner, Munich) and Dr. Malte Ingwersen (Counsel, Hamburg) (both Corporate/M&A).
thermondo was advised by Lupp+Partner. About Norton Rose Fulbright Norton Rose Fulbright is a global commercial law firm. With more than 3,500 lawyers at over 50 locations worldwide in Europe, the USA, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, we advise leading national and international companies. We offer our clients comprehensive advice in all major industries. These include Financial Institutions; Energy; Infrastructure, Mining and Commodities; Transportation; Technology and Innovation; and Life Sciences and Healthcare. Our global Risk Advisory Group combines this extensive industry experience with its expertise in legal, regulatory, compliance and governance matters. This enables us to provide our clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks they face. Wherever we operate, we act in accordance with our business principles of “Quality, Unity and Integrity”. We provide legal services of the highest standard and maintain this level of quality in every contact. The Swiss association Norton Rose Fulbright helps to coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members, but does not provide legal advice to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.
Munich/Bonn — Rödl & Partner has advised Ipsos SA with an interdisciplinary team on a public takeover offer to acquire infas Holding AG, a major player in the field of market, opinion and social research in Germany.
Ipsos, one of the world’s leading market research companies, has launched a voluntary public takeover offer for infas Holding AG.
This transaction enables Ipsos to combine its international reach and operational know-how with the expertise and reputation of infas.
This will enable Ipsos to further strengthen its position as a provider of market research and consulting services in Germany.
The Rödl & Partner team supported Ipsos with a financial and tax due diligence.
Partner James Murphy was responsible for the overall project management and financial due diligence.
The tax due diligence was carried out by partner Dr. Christoph Götz. About Ipsos SA Ipsos claims to be one of the world’s leading market and opinion research companies.
The company employs around 20,000 people and is represented in 90 countries.
With more than 5,000 clients, Ipsos offers comprehensive research and analysis expertise that provides deep insights into people’s behavior, opinions and motives.
In Germany, more than 500 employees work in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Nuremberg.
The company was founded in 1975 by Didier Truchot and is headquartered in Paris, France.
Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999. About infas Holding AG infas is a listed, private and independent research institute based in Bonn, Germany, which conducts national and international ad hoc studies on topics such as the labor market, education and transport.
Founded in 1959, the company employs 300 people, including over 150 scientists, and generated a turnover of around 50 million euros in 2023.
The company consists of several subsidiaries, including infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft, infas 360, infas quo and Lutum+Tappert.
infas conducts qualitative and quantitative surveys as well as market analyses in various subject areas, including transportation and health. Rödl & Partner — The agile caretaker for medium-sized global market leaders As lawyers, tax consultants, business and IT consultants and auditors, we are represented at 110 of our own locations in 50 countries. Our clients trust our 5,800 colleagues worldwide. www.roedl.de. Advisor to Ipsos SA: Rödl & PartnerJamesMurphy, Partner, Munich (© Roedl & Partner) — Overall project management Nick Phillips, Manager, London Christoph Niederl, Senior Associate, Munich Tax Services: Dr. Christoph Götz, Partner, Munich, Dr. Susann Sturm, Manager, Munich Lucas Reilly-Schott, Tax Assistant, Munich
Atlanta/ Düsseldorf/ — UPS (NYSE: UPS) announced the acquisition of Frigo-Trans and its sister company BPL (collectively “Frigo-Trans”), industry-leading providers of complex healthcare logistics based in Germany.
Once the acquisition is finalized, UPS will enhance its end-to-end capabilities across Europe for UPS Healthcare customers who increasingly require temperature-sensitive and time-sensitive logistics.
“Rapid innovation in the pharmaceutical industry is creating the need for more integrated refrigerated and frozen supply chains,” said Kate Gutmann, EVP and President of International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions at UPS.
“Frigo-Trans will help deepen our portfolio of solutions for our customers and accelerate our journey to become the global leader in complex healthcare logistics to meet their needs.”
Frigo-Trans’ network includes a temperature-controlled warehouse covering six temperature zones from cryopreservation (-196°C) to ambient (+15° to +25°C), a pan-European cold chain transportation solution and temperature-controlled and time-critical freight forwarding services.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary regulatory reviews and approvals.
The value and terms of the transaction will not be disclosed at this time. About Frigo-Trans Frigo-Trans provides a comprehensive warehousing and transportation solution for pharmaceutical and biotech customers.
Frigo-Trans utilizes world-class distribution facilities and a pharmacy-focused, pan-European cold chain transportation network.
Other value-added services include packaging, handling and inventory management.
The Frigo-Trans network is headquartered in Fußgönheim, Germany and covers all European countries. About BPL BPL offers customized transport management for GDP-compliant shipping of time-critical and temperature-sensitive products.
BPL manages a high-quality network of air and sea freight carriers and handles customs clearance to meet customers’ complex cross-border requirements.
Temperature-controlled packaging is an additional value-added service.
BPL primarily caters to biopharma customers with specific temperature, quality and speed requirements.
BPL is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. About UPS UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest companies, with revenues of $91.0 billion in 2023, providing a broad range of integrated logistics solutions to customers in more than 200 countries and territories.
The company’s approximately 500,000 employees pursue a strategy that is simply formulated and powerfully implemented: “Moving our world forward by delivering what matters”: Customer first.
People led.
Innovation driven.
UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world.
UPS is also a tireless advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion.
For more information, visit ups.com, about.ups.com and investors.ups.com.
Munich — Mavie, the leading provider of workplace health promotion in Austria, is expanding into the German market by acquiring a majority stake in wellabe.
The strategic partnership offers companies and employees a more comprehensive range of services to promote physical and mental health with innovative solutions and a strong network of experts.
Mavie, an innovative holistic healthcare provider from Austria, is entering the German market with the acquisition of a 60% stake in the HealthTech start-up wellabe.
wellabe offers health check-ups at the workplace and personalized, digital prevention programs.
With their mobile health stations, they provide employees with a comprehensive insight into their current health status in less than 20 minutes.
The results are available to participants in real time in the wellabe app and can be discussed with a health coach as part of a video consultation.
By acquiring a majority stake in wellabe, Mavie is taking a further step in its expansion strategy and consolidating its position as a leading provider of workplace health promotion in Austria.
Building on Mavie Work’s strong market position in Austria, the company will work with wellabe to offer an even broader range of innovative health services for companies in future. wellabe: HealthTech startup for healthier cooperation Founded in Germany in 2018, the HealthTech startup wellabe currently supports around 100 B2B customers in the field of occupational healthcare.
With health check-ups at the workplace, personalized, digital prevention programs and mobile health stations, the company gives participants a comprehensive insight into their current health status.
The resulting data-based recommendations are tailored to the specific needs of the participants and support them in making sustainable lifestyle changes.
Overall, risk factors can be identified in good time and lifestyle diseases can be proactively prevented.
The company is owned by the Austrian healthcare provider Mavie and SANA Kliniken AG, the third-largest private clinic operator in Germany. Mavie Work: Number 1 in Austria Mavie Work is a leading provider of workplace health promotion in Austria and supports companies and their employees on the path to a healthier organization.
Mavie’s portfolio includes everything that helps organizations and their employees stay healthy.
The services are holistic, encompass physical and mental health and range from modern, low-threshold diagnostic services to exercise programs, mental coaching and nutritional advice.
EAP (Employee Assistance Program) is dedicated to the mental health of employees in confidential personal consultations.
Managers are supported with coaching, seminars and training.
Mavie currently supports around 190 companies with around 145,000 employees.
Mavie is backed by experienced and passionate health experts who are committed to making a lasting and tangible difference to health. Mavie: innovative holistic health provider Mavie has been active as a group of companies since 2020. The Group’s aim is to develop into a holistic, modern healthcare provider that supports and accompanies people throughout their lives in maintaining and improving their health.
Mavie focuses on prevention (staying healthy) and rehabilitation (getting healthy).
Offers are available to both end customers (B2C) and corporate partners (B2B).
Mavie is already active with offerings such as Mavie Work, a provider of occupational healthcare with around 190 corporate customers throughout Austria.
The portfolio also includes cura domo, the Austrian market leader in 24-hour care and an expert in active & assisted ageing with more than 2,500 caregivers.
This is complemented by MavieMe, innovative home tests for blood and gut microbiome, both of which can be carried out conveniently and easily from home.
In addition, Mavie cooperates with the PremiQaMed Group in the development of healthcare services such as Health Mobil, a mobile healthcare service for companies.
As a holistic healthcare provider and strategic investor, Mavie focuses on existing business models and innovations in equal measure, identifying, developing and scaling them to make them accessible to as many people as possible.
Mavie sees itself as an innovator and business partner and invests in companies that fit its strategic focus in the healthcare sector and with which joint business models can be developed through collaboration. POELLATH provided comprehensive legal advice to Mavie with the following team:Christian Tönies, LL.M. Eur. (Partner, Co-Lead, M&A/VC, Munich) Markus Döllner (Photo © Poellath) , LL.M.
(London) (Counsel, Co-Lead, M&A/VC, Munich) Dr. Sebastian Gerlinger, LL.M.
(Partner, M&A/VC, Munich) Christine Funk, LL.M. (Counsel, IP/IT, Frankfurt aM)
Marvin May (Associate, Employment Law, Munich)
Berlin/ Munich — Alphalytik Pharmaservice GmbH, a leading expert in pharmaceutical analytics, announces its integration into GREENPEAK Partners’ subsidiary, the CERTANIA Group, a dynamic group specializing in testing, inspection and certification services.
This strategic move represents a significant milestone for Alphalytik as it expands its offering of specialized stability testing and method validation services to a broader range of pharmaceutical clients. Alphalytik was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
Alphalytik has built a strong reputation as an independent laboratory specializing in drug product stability testing, method development and release testing under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
With a focus on complex drug formulations, including low-dose and hormonal preparations, Alphalytik serves a diverse customer base that includes some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
The company’s expertise in ensuring the long-term safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products makes it a reliable partner.
The merger with CERTANIA will give Alphalytik access to a powerful platform that will enable it to expand its service offering and strengthen its position in the pharmaceutical analytics market.
This partnership will enable Alphalytik to meet the growing demand for specialized pharmaceutical testing services driven by increasing drug development and regulatory requirements.
Dr. Nicolas Schauer has been appointed as the new Managing Director, while Dr. Richard Herzog, the founder of Alphalytik, will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition and continuity in customer relationships.
“We are excited to join CERTANIA, a group that shares our commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical testing,” said Dr. Richard Herzog, founder of Alphalytik.
“This partnership will provide us with the resources and support we need to continue providing high-quality, reliable services to our customers while pursuing new growth opportunities.” Karsten Xander, CEO and founder of CERTANIA, welcomed Alphalytik to the group and emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition.
“The addition of Alphalytik significantly strengthens CERTANIA’s position in the field of pharmaceutical laboratory analytics. Their expertise in stability testing and method validation complements our existing services and we see great potential for synergies and growth.”
The acquisition of Alphalytik by CERTANIA underlines the Group’s commitment to expanding its competencies in the life sciences and strengthening its market presence in Germany and beyond.
The integration is expected to drive innovation, enhance the service offering and promote significant growth within the CERTANIA Group. CERTANIA offers medium-sized, knowledge-based companies a platform to develop under one roof, retain entrepreneurial freedom and at the same time benefit from the resources and support of the group. About Alphalytik: Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Berlin, Alphalytik Pharmaservice GmbH is a specialized pharmaceutical laboratory offering stability testing, method development and release testing for medicinal products.
With a focus on complex analytical requirements, Alphalytik serves a diverse clientele, including leading pharmaceutical companies.
The company’s expertise and accredited services ensure the long-term safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.
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Munich — The global law firm Reed Smith, together with DealCircle as main sponsors, invites you to the international conference pemacom for private equity specialists and M&A experts on September 24, 2024 in Munich.
Since 2010, the annual pemacom conference has taken place in Munich during the Oktoberfest and has continuously expanded the range of topics into a private equity and M&A platform.
The event sees itself as a “networking place-to-be” to exchange views on current developments in the markets, economy and strategy. Prof. Dr. Gregor Kirchhof, LL.M. from the University of Augsburg will open this year’s pemacom with a keynote speech on “Paradigm Lost? — About the European Path in a New World”. Dr. Nikolaus von Jacobs (photo © ReedSmith) and Christian von Sydow, both private equity and M&A experts and Partner/Senior Counsel at Reed Smith, will introduce the event.
“With this event, we are bringing together top-class discussion partners and experts from international private equity funds with leading German companies and international institutions and consulting firms, thus creating a unique opportunity for networking and direct exchange on the current private equity and M&A challenges in the market,” says Dr. Nikolaus von Jacobs, Partner at Reed Smith in Munich and Co-Chair pemacom.
The overarching theme against the backdrop of the impact of the US elections is to take stock of the private equity landscape in the current market.
Cross-border transactions to and from the US and within Europe are a topic of this year’s conference, alongside special sector panels on topics including ESG standards, the role of family offices, sector expertise for healthcare/life sciences and digital business models, a look at mid-market transactions and developments in the areas of AI and digitalization, financing and private funds.
Christian von Sydow, Senior Counsel at Reed Smith and Co-Chair of pemacom: “It may come as a surprise that the current transaction data shows that the market is gaining stability. It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, the US election will have on takeover activity. To explore this, our panels in the various sectors will provide an in-depth snapshot of the market and the expectations of market participants.”
All further information on the pemacom event on 24.9.2024 at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich and the current program can be found on the website www.pemacom.com
Bizzdesign and MEGA International, two Gartner-recognized leaders in Enterprise Architecture (EA) software, announced a definitive merger agreement.
In addition, Bizzdesign has signed a further acquisition that will bring the group to total revenues of EUR 110 million and over 600 employees.
These two significant acquisitions will create a leading global player in the digital transformation software market with offices, employees and customers around the world.
The combined group will continue to operate under the Bizzdesign brand, reflecting a shared commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. MEGA MEGA will be acquired by its founder and management, as well as by Belgian private equity investor GIMV.
The acquisition of MEGA marks the second step in Bizzdesign’s buy-and-build strategy since the merger with strategic software investor Main Capital Partners (“Main”).
MEGA was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
The company is represented worldwide, has offices in 10 countries and employs approximately 350 people.
MEGA’s HOPEX platform enables collaboration, automation and actionable insights to accelerate transformation initiatives.
HOPEX’s four core solutions focus on Enterprise Architecture (EA), Business Process Management (BPM), Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) and Data Governance.
MEGA serves more than 600 customers in the EMEA, North America, LATAM and APAC regions, including major banks, insurance companies and aerospace companies. Building a global leader in Enterprise Architecture The combination of Bizzdesign and MEGA creates a new market leader in Enterprise Architecture and Digital Transformation, serving a diverse client base of more than 1,000 corporate and government institutions, including blue-chip clients such as HSBC, Shell, Wells Fargo and EDF.
With a highly complementary market presence across all continents, the merger will create a true global market leader in this field.
Bizzdesign and MEGA have been recognized as market leaders in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Architecture for over ten years, underlining the leading position of both companies in this field.
The combined product offering is well positioned to support organizations in their enterprise transformation initiatives.
“We are very excited to partner with MEGA,” said Bert van der Zwan, CEO of Bizzdesign.
“The merger will accelerate our growth and enable us to deliver more innovative solutions and provide greater value to our customers around the world. We see a fruitful strategic partnership with great potential to deliver a value proposition in international markets together with MEGA.”
Luca de Risi, CEO of MEGA International, explains: “Bizzdesign is an excellent strategic and cultural fit for MEGA.
Our combined strengths and resources will greatly enhance the value of enterprise architecture in transforming organizations.
The MEGA management team is very excited to be a part of this. Sven van Berge Henegouwen, Managing Partner at Main and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bizzdesign, summarizes: “This transaction is a milestone in Bizzdesign’s growth strategy. We strongly believe in working with committed entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation for the benefit of their customers. Over the past 20 years, this has been one of the key value drivers for Main Capital in the successful organic and buy-and-build growth strategies we have executed with our business partners. With Bizzdesign and MEGA, we are bringing together two companies that are both known for their innovation and expertise in enterprise architecture, creating a strong foundation for further global expansion. The merger reinforces our strategy of building leading international software groups in one of our core product markets and also marks the official launch of our expansion into France.”
The closing of the MEGA acquisition is still subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. Additional strategic acquisition in the field of digital transformation In addition to the acquisition of MEGA, Bizzdesign recently signed another significant strategic acquisition in the field of digital transformation.
This further acquisition will further strengthen the Group’s already global market-leading position in this area and bring additional complementary and synergistic product opportunities to the Group.
The combined group, including this undisclosed acquisition, will generate revenues of approximately EUR 110 million and employ over 600 people, creating a strong foundation for further organic and inorganic growth.
A detailed announcement of this latest acquisition is expected to be published during Q4 2024. About Bizzdesign https://bizzdesign.com/ Founded in 2000, Bizzdesign is recognized as the trusted global SaaS platform for enterprise architecture and is recognized as a leader by major analyst firms such as Gartner and Forrester.
Bizzdesign helps the world’s leading public and private organizations ensure successful prioritization of investments, transformation initiatives and risk management.
Bizzdesign helps architects and executives to fully envision multidimensional architectural structures, design and plan both current and future architecture, and execute their strategic transformation initiatives with confidence. About MEGA International https://www.mega.com/ Founded in 1991, MEGA is a global software provider specializing in digital transformation solutions to connect IT leaders, process owners, risk managers and data governance officers.
The company is headquartered in Paris, France, and has offices in 10 countries worldwide.
MEGA’s SaaS platform, HOPEX, enables collaboration, automation and creates actionable insights to accelerate transformation initiatives. MEGA serves more than 600 clients in the EMEA, North America, LATAM and APAC regions, including large banks, insurance companies, public administration and the airspace industry. About Main Capital Partners https://main.nl/ Main Capital Partners is a leading software investor in the Benelux, DACH, the Nordics, and the United States with approximately EUR 6 billion in assets under management.
Main has over 20 years of experience in strengthening software companies and works closely with the management teams in its portfolio as a strategic partner to achieve profitable growth and larger outstanding software groups.
As a leading software investor managing private equity funds active in Northwestern Europe and North America, Main has over 75 employees operating out of its offices in The Hague, Düsseldorf, Stockholm, Antwerp, and an affiliated office in Boston.
Main maintains an active portfolio of over 45 software companies.
The underlying portfolio employs over 12,000 employees.
Through its Main Social Institute, Main supports students with grants and scholarships to study IT and Computer Science at Technical Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences.
Berlin — Monda, the all-in-one data monetization platform, announced that it has raised USD 5 million in a seed funding round.
The round was led by Senovo and Acrobator Ventures, with participation from Techstars.
The capital will be used to expand business operations in the US, grow the partner ecosystem and expand the platform to enable any business to securely monetize data.
Monda’s software enables companies to start and scale a data services business.
Monda has seen strong growth in 2024 and the platform is now used by over 150 Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) companies that have created more than 6,000 data products.
Monda has built key partnerships and integrations with world-leading cloud platforms such as Google Cloud, Databricks and SAP.
Since the beginning of the year, the team has doubled to 32 employees.
In addition, Monda is opening its first US office in Boston in fall 2024 to be closer to North American customers, who make up 50% of its customer base.
Monda was founded by tech entrepreneurs and data experts Thani Shamsi and Richard Hoffmann
as a spin-off of Berlin-based Datarade, the world’s largest comparison platform for data providers. Thani Shamsi, founder and CEO of Monda, said: “AI has created a huge demand for high-quality and unique data sets to train AI models. Companies have recognized the monetization of their proprietary data for AI as a business opportunity, but face an increasingly complex global data market. Having worked for a data provider myself, I know these challenges first-hand. We have created Monda to enable any company to build a secure, growing and sustainable data services business — driving AI forward.” More and more AI companies are trying to secure access to proprietary data sets to train and refine their models — and are signing data licenses with data-rich companies like Reddit, Shutterstock, or Yelp. But technical, regulatory and operational challenges prevent companies from monetizing their data: Building a successful data-as-a-service business involves creating data products, integrating with data marketplaces, setting up data distribution, securely sharing data, handling data licenses, and managing compliance. Mona Gindler, Partner at Senovosaid: “As the sourcing and monetization of data moves into the mainstream, data providers need better tools to manage the increasing complexity of the data market. Monda helps them reach more customers while reducing operational overhead, putting the company in a strong position to lead this new software category. Thani and Richard have built a fantastic team and culture in Berlin. We are excited to support their expansion into the US with the new Boston office.” Monda’s data monetization platform has three key differentiators: First, the product is easy to use and allows business users to create data products and publish them to their own data storefront or data marketplaces in just a few clicks. Secondly, Monda’s vertical SaaS approach enables companies to run and manage their entire data services business on one platform. Thirdly, customers appreciate the first-class service and support from an international customer care team. Part of the seed funding will be used to further develop data integrations with cloud platforms, support unstructured data products and roll out additional compliance functionalities.
Richard Hoffmann, Founder and President of Monda, said: “The opening of our first US office in Boston is a pivotal moment for Monda, our US customers and for me personally. I am currently relocating with my family from Germany to the United States to fully dedicate myself to the success and growth of our US client base and local team. The US has always been our most important market as a pioneer in data and AI innovation.” About Monda Monda is a leading B2B SaaS company in the data services industry.
Monda’s all-in-one data monetization platform enables any business to securely share and monetize its proprietary data.
The company was founded in 2024 by Thani Shamsi and Richard Hoffmann as a spin-off of Datarade, the world’s largest comparison platform for data providers.
Monda’s vision is to create a global ecosystem for transparent, secure data sharing to accelerate the AI revolution and progress.
— https://www.monda.ai/ About Senovo Senovo is an early stage venture capital firm based in Munich and Berlin, partnering with exceptional founders and building global B2B SaaS category leaders from Europe.
As a European first-mover, the fund has been investing since 2013 in a new generation of B2B software start-ups that enable the digitalization of medium-sized and large companies.
Senovo invests after the first sales of a company in a late seed or Series A round.
The team of SaaS specialists looks for meaningful relationships at eye level and regularly publishes their insights and expertise on https://medium.com/senovovc. — https://senovo.vc About Acrobator Ventures Acrobator Ventures is an operator-led VC focused on (pre-)seed founders building technology and data companies.
The partners bring a deep understanding of AI/ML and operational excellence with a founder-first mentality.
— https://acrobator.vc
— Lakestar is leading the Series B round, with Elaia and General Catalyst, Speedinvest and Bertelsmann as well as several existing investors also participating.
The funding comes two years after Doccla raised a $17 million Series A round.
The startup Doccla is using technology to solve this problem: It is developing “virtual bed” technology that allows doctors to remotely care for patients who have either been discharged early or, in some cases, never come to the hospital at all.
The company has completed the new financing round to ensure that its expansion into the D‑A-CH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and France is as successful as possible.
The company claims to enroll 1,000 new patients per month.
In the long term, Doccla is aiming for 100,000 new patients per month.
— According to a study funded by the NHS, regional NHS departments were able to reduce emergency room visits by 63 percent by using Doccla and at the same time achieve a 300 percent return on investment.
This probably also convinced those responsible at the Bad Reichenhall district clinic: they brought the system to Germany without further ado as part of a pilot project in February 2024, but are only using it for individual patients for the time being due to the healthcare system not yet being geared towards telemedicine.