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Corporate / M&A

Advising on corporate law – the challenges for future-oriented companies

Digital transformation and shifts in world trade require unprecedented flexibility from companies. Our Corporate/M&A practice is focused on helping them meet the challenges of today’s business world through optimal corporate structures and strategically smart transactions. 

From company formation to corporate succession

Corporate law is a core activity at CMS – with more than 180 lawyers across eight locations, we have the largest corporate law team in Germany.

Our Corporate/M&A team assists you in creating structures within your organisation or corporate group that allow you to act with confidence and avoid liability risks.

Our experts on corporate law can advise you and your business from formation through to developing a corporate succession solution. We advise on corporate transactions as well as on mergers and restructurings. For investors, we develop tailored equity models that take account of the subsequent exit strategy. Our lawyers handle the preparations for your shareholder meeting and settle shareholder disputes via proven dispute resolution methods.

Our Corporate/M&A practice includes the following main areas and excellence clusters: 

Tailor-made advice on corporate law with strong partner involvement worldwide

We offer a seamless cross-border service with strong partner involvement. The size and international presence of CMS enable us to provide the right advisors for every matter, whether you need an experienced lawyer with specific industry expertise as your day-to-day contact or a larger team to handle an M&A transaction.

Where complex legal issues are involved, such as when restructuring companies, we bring together experts from corporate law, tax law and other areas to develop a bespoke solution for your business. The same Corporate/M&A partner always remains your point of contact, continues to coordinate the project and is personally responsible for the matter. Personal service and maximum client confidence are thus ensured throughout. 

Comprehensive knowledge, a long track record and in-depth industry expertise are all hallmarks of our service.

"They are extremely responsive, very smart and very pragmatic," […] "of consistent high quality." (client)

Chambers Europe, 2020

"Strong stock corporation law practice, increasingly close ties to DAX companies."

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2019 (GCLF)

Germany M&A Legal Adviser of the Year

Mergermarket 2018

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Distressed M&A
Distressed M&A
M&A as a core competence. Distressed M&A is a major focus within the CMS M&A practice group. With around 250 lawyers specialising in M&
Internationale Konzernstrukturen
International Group Structures
Designing cross-border structures. Corporate groups with an international structure need to comply with the laws of multiple countries. Having interna
Mergers & Acquisitions
Mergers & Acquisitions
Focused on M&A transactions. M&A transactions are the focus of CMS’s corporate law work. With around 180 lawyers, our firm offers M&
Post Merger Integration (PMI) - Corporate / M&A
Öffentliche Übernahmen
Public takeovers
Forward-looking planning and successful implementation of your public takeover. The German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG) sets a
Aktienrecht
Stock Corporation Law
Comprehensive advice for listed companies. Listed companies are under constant scrutiny. The words and actions of its executive officers can affect th
Gesellschaftsrechtliche Gestaltung
Structuring under corporate law
Corporate structuring. Good corporate governance requires proper structuring of the entity’s legal framework. The company’s articles of as
09/06/2023
Update Gesell­schaft­s­recht
In our Update Gesell­schaft­s­recht, we deal with several topics of German corporate law. We discuss corporate structuring, the latest case law and relevant legal disputes relating to German corporate law.
CMS Corporate Tools (in German)
Nützliche Tools rund um das Gesell­schaft­s­recht

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26/03/2024
CMS advises SEFE on all aspects of acquiring WIGA Group
Hamburg – SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE) has acquired all the shares in WIGA Transport Beteili­gungs-GmbH & Co. KG (WIGA) from its co-shareholder Wintershall Dea AG. The transaction is currently awaiting approval from the competition authorities. SEFE is wholly owned by the Federal Republic of Germany. WIGA owns regulated gas pipeline operators GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and NEL Gastransport GmbH, who operate one of the largest high-pressure gas networks in Germany with a combined length of around 4,150 kilometres. These networks have a key role to play in European energy security and the green energy transformation. The transaction will strengthen SEFE in its role of ensuring secure and reliable energy supply in Germany and Europe, as well as boosting its hydrogen ex­pert­ise.“With the full acquisition of WIGA as sole shareholder, we are strategically strengthening SEFE as an independent and autonomous midstream company,” commented Reinhard Gorenflos, Chairman of the SEFE Supervisory Board.“SEFE being the sole shareholder of WIGA will ensure that GASCADE can convert the existing high-performance infrastructure to hydrogen in the future. In this way, we can help drive forward the green energy transformation. Transportation infrastructure is a pivotal part of the future hydrogen value chain,” said Dr Egbert Laege, CEO of SEFE. “The two WIGA subsidiaries, GASCADE and NEL, will continue to operate independently and market their capacity in a transparent and non-dis­crim­in­at­ory manner.”SEFE CFO Dr Christian Ohlms highlighted the importance of WIGA with regard to the privatisation of SEFE, which is due to take place by the end of 2028: “With this transaction, which is expected to complete by summer 2024, we are strengthening SEFE’s asset base. Our aim is to continue the long-term development of SEFE on a stable financial footing.”A multinational CMS team headed by Hamburg-based partner Dr Holger Kraft advised SEFE on all aspects of acquiring WIGA. In addition to extensive due diligence on the entire WIGA Group, including GASCADE and NEL, which are regulated under energy law, this work covered negotiation of the share purchase agreement and separate agreements with the shareholders of Wintershall Dea AG. Alongside negotiating the transaction agreements, the advice focused on safeguarding the transaction through several W&I insurance agreements, including negotiating the policies, and handling regulatory issues relating to gas network operation and other public-law matters. CMS Germany worked closely with the CMS law firms in the UK and Luxembourg, and with US law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. CMS previously advised the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in 2022 and 2023 around their trusteeship over SEFE and its subsequent nationalisation by way of corporate actions. The instructions for this transaction followed on from that successful cooperation. About SEFE:As an integrated midstream energy company headquartered in Berlin, SEFE Securing Energy for Europe ensures the security of energy supply in Germany and Europe and is driving the green energy transformation. SEFE is active in trading & portfolio management, sales, transportation and storage of energy and has its strongest presence in Germany and the UK. SEFE employs around 1,500 people and supplies over 50,000 customers, in particular industrial customers and municipal utilities in Germany and seven other European markets. With a sales volume of around 200 TWh of power and gas, SEFE plays a central role in stability of the energy supply in Germany and Europe. SEFE is owned by the Federal Government of Germany. CMS Germany Dr Holger Kraft, Lead Partner Dr Jan Schepke, Partner Matthias Sethmann, Principal Counsel Dr Dirk Baukholt, Principal Coun­sel Char­lotte von der Heydt-von Kalckreuth, Counsel Dr Stefan Kühl, Senior Associate Dr Paul Kintrup, Senior Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Rolf Hempel, Partner Dr Friedrich von Burchard, Partner Nicole Köppen, Senior Associate, all Regulatory Dr Hermann Müller, Partner Dr Arno Görlitz, Associate, both Public Commercial Law Dr Martin Mohr, Partner Dr Olaf Thießen, Principal Counsel, both Tax Dr Alexandra Schluck-Amend, Partner Manuel Nann, Senior As­so­ci­ate Pit-Jo­hannes Wagner, Associate, all Restructuring Dr Andreas Hofelich, Partner Dr Mario Brungs, Counsel Dr Lena Pingen, Associate, all Em­ploy­ment/Pen­sions Dr Fritz von Hammerstein, Partner Jan Gröschel, Senior Associate Heike Weyer, Senior Associate, all Public Law Dr Stefan Voß, Partner Tamara Bux, Associate, both Real Estate Dr Sebastian Cording, Partner Martin Krause, Partner Dr Shaya Stender, Associate Joel Coché, Associate, all Commercial Dr Julia Runge, Principal Counsel, Finance Dr Michael Bauer, Part­ner Chris­toff Henrik Soltau, Partner Dr Robert Bodewig, Senior Associate Luisa Thomasberger, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade CMS UK Russel Hoare, Partner Sam De Silva, Part­ner Jean-Fran­cois Willems, Of Counsel Jennifer Louch, Senior As­so­ci­ate Max­imili­an Weaver, Senior Associate Louisa Mottaz, Associate CMS Luxembourg Angelique Eguether, Senior As­so­ci­ate Guil­laume Flagollet, Managing Associate Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (USA) Mollie D. Sitkowski Inhouse at SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH Dr Jörg Kammerer Jörn RimkePress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
26/03/2024
CMS advises sellers of Cardior Pharmaceuticals on potential acquisition...
Munich – CMS advises the sellers of Cardior Pharmaceuticals in the potential acquisition of the company by Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire Cardior for up to 1.025 billion Euros, including an upfront payment and additional payments if certain development and commercial milestones are achieved. The agreement includes Cardior’s lead compound CDR132L, currently in phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of heart failure. The closing of the acquisition is subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. It is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2024.A CMS team headed by Lead Partners Stefan-Ulrich Müller, Dr Tilman Weichert and Jörg Schrade advised the sellers of Cardior Pharmaceuticals on all legal aspects of the transaction. Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, based in Hannover, Germany, is a leading clinical-stage bio­phar­ma­ceut­ic­al company pioneering the discovery and development of RNA-based therapeutics designed to prevent, repair and reverse diseases of the heart. The company’s therapeutic approach uses distinctive non-coding RNAs as an innovative platform for addressing the root causes of cardiac dysfunctions. CMS Germany Stefan-Ulrich Müller, Lead Partner Dr Tilman Weichert, Lead Partner Dr Michael Wangemann, Partner Dr Kai Wallisch, Partner Dr Thomas Mühl, Principal Coun­sel Se­basti­an Hummel, Senior As­so­ci­ate Vikt­or­ia Barthel, Senior As­so­ci­ate Mar­i­elouise Emmer, Senior Associate Dr Carl-Friedrich Thoma, Senior Associate Dr Stefan Kühl, Senior Associate Dr Alexander Weinhold, Senior Associate Maria Kucher, Associate Jonas Ohmann, Associate Dr Josephine Doll, Associate Dr Christian Seeburger, Associate Sonja Schanze, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Marie-Luisa Loheide, Associate, Private Clients Jörg Schrade, Lead Partner Eduard Kosavtsev, Senior Associate, both Tax Stefan Lehr, Partner, Antitrust, Competition & Trade Stefan Lüft, Partner, IP Dr Benedikt Forschner, Partner, Labor, Employment & Pensions Dr Markus Kaulartz, Partner Dr Fiona Savary, Counsel Dr Felix Glocker, Senior Associate, all TMC Dr Tilman Niedermaier, Partner Susanne Schwalb, Partner, both Dispute ResolutionPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
25/03/2024
CMS advises on project financing for land-based terminal in Stade
Hamburg – Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH (HEH) has achieved financial close for the project financing to develop and realise the planned terminal for liquefied gases in Stade. Total investment is some EUR 1.6 billion. Achieving financial close represents a major milestone for Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH’s land-based terminal.A multi-dis­cip­lin­ary and multi-location CMS team headed by Dr Hilke Herchen and Dr Holger Kraft advised Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH on developing the project and on preparations to secure the project financing. This included corporate law advice with a particular focus on developing and optimising corporate governance, and on the associated links to the project financing. This advice marks a continuation of the existing close cooperation between HEH and CMS. The CMS team has been providing advice on an ongoing basis since the start of the project, with support for project development around corporate, operation & maintenance and real estate matters in particular. This has included advising on various shareholders joining the project, with a recent example being Enagás S.A. as industrial partner in June 2023. The CMS team conducted a comprehensive due diligence check to put the project financing on a solid footing. The first expansion phase of the project will see an emission-free terminal begin operating in 2027. Its infrastructure is also approved for bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas (SNG). At a later stage, the project will be switched over to hydrogen-based energy carriers such as ammonia. The planned regasification capacity is 13.3 billion cubic metres per year and the send-out capacity is 21.7 gigawatt. From March 2024 until the onshore terminal becomes operational, Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH will also accommodate one of the five FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units) chartered by the German federal government. CMS Germany Dr Hilke Herchen, Lead Partner Dr Holger Kraft, Lead Partner Matthias Sethmann, Principal Counsel Dr Luise Pelzer, Counsel Dr Stefan Kühl, Senior Associate Dr Carl-Friedrich Thoma, Senior Associate Dr Josephine Doll, As­so­ci­ate Domin­ic Zimmer, Associate Dr Christian Seeburger, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Fritz von Hammerstein, Partner Katja Meisel, Senior Associate Jan Gröschel, Senior Associate, all Per­mit­ting Mar­tin Krause, Partner Dr Sebastian Orthmann, Partner Dr Hans Fabian Kiderlen, Principal Coun­sel Chris­toph­er Schmeckel, Senior Associate Wiebke Westermann, Associate, all Real Estate Dr Friedrich von Burchard, Partner, Energy & Climate Change Dorothée Janzen, Part­ner  Chris­toph Zarth, Partner Robin Azinovic, Associate, all Commercial Dr Kerstin Block, Partner, Banking & Finance  Dr Martin Mohr, Partner Dr Olaf Thießen, Principal Counsel, both Tax Dr Sebastian Cording, Partner Dr Anna Lena Füllsack, Senior Associate, both TMC Dr Michael Bauer, Partner Luisa Thomasberger, Associate, both Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Philipp Nonnenmühlen, Counsel, Labor, Employment & Pensions Dr Martin Gerecke, Partner, IP Birgit Wagner, Legal Manager, Smart OperationsPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
21/03/2024
CMS European M&A Study 2024
The CMS Corporate/M&A Group is pleased to launch the 16th edition of the European M&A Study
20/03/2024
CMS advises listed company Mutares on agreement to acquire Magirus from...
Munich – Listed private equity firm Mutares SE & Co. KGaA has signed an agreement to acquire Magirus from the Iveco Group. Magirus is one of the world’s leading providers of firefighting equipment. This new platform investment will enable Mutares to strengthen its Goods & Services segment. The transaction is expected to complete no later than January 2025.A CMS team headed by partner Dr Michael Wangemann advised Mutares on all legal aspects of the acquisition. Mutares regularly relies on the expertise of the CMS team led by Dr Wangemann, including during the recent acquisition of High Precision Components Witten GmbH. Mutares SE & Co. KGaA is a private equity firm based in Munich. It acquires medium-sized companies in transitional situations and parts of large corporations (carve-outs), with the aim of putting them onto a profitable growth path. Mutares’ revenues currently stand at around EUR 5 billion and are expect to rise to 10 billion by 2028. Ulm-based Magirus generates annual sales of more than EUR 300 million. The company has around 1,300 employees across locations in Germany, Italy, Austria and France. It offers products and related aftersales services in the firefighting and disaster control field. CMS Germany Dr Michael Wangemann, Lead Partner Viktoria Barthel, Senior As­so­ci­ate Mar­i­elouise Emmer, Senior Associate, all Corporate/M&A Anna-Lena Löcherbach, Counsel, M&A/Real Estate Susanne Schwalb, Partner, Dispute Res­ol­u­tion Stefan Lüft, Partner Martin Maurer, Senior Associate, both IP Inhouse Legal at Mutares Jan Thöle, General Counsel Inhouse Tax at Mutares Denis Ahluwalia, Head of Tax Julia Hellwig, Senior Manager TaxPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
14/03/2024
CMS advises Encavis management board on EUR 2.8 billion takeover offer...
Ham­burg/Frank­furt – KKR has today announced a voluntary public takeover offer made to all the other shareholders of Encavis AG of EUR 17.50 per share in cash. This represents a transaction volume of around EUR 2.8 billion. Family-owned business Viessmann GmbH & Co. KG will participate as co-investor in the KKR-led consortium. The offeror has signed binding agreements with Abacon Capital GmbH and other major shareholders holding around 31% of the total share capital. These shareholders will continue to be long-term investors in the company indirectly through a stake in the offeror’s corporate structure. Encavis and the offeror have signed an investor agreement on the key points of the transaction. In line with the investor negotiations, the consortium will support the strategic ambitions of Encavis to accelerate growth. The offer document will be submitted by the offeror within the next two weeks for approval by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Completion of the transaction is subject to a minimum acceptance threshold and regulatory approvals, among other conditions. CMS advised Encavis on the investor agreement via a team headed by Dr Henrik Drinkuth and Ayleen Görisch, together with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and will advise the Encavis management board on all legal aspects of the takeover offer. The company is a longstanding CMS client. CMS Germany Dr Henrik Drinkuth, Partner Ayleen Görisch, Counsel, both Lead Dr Hendrik Quast, Senior Associate, all Corporate/M&A Christoff Soltau, Partner Kai Neuhaus, Partner Dr Robert Bodewig, Senior Associate David Rappenglück, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade Philipp Melzer, Partner Hatice Akyel, Counsel Patrick Damanik, Senior Associate, all Banking, Finance & Insurance Encavis Natalie Grüber (Head of Legal)Press Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
12/03/2024
Multi-billion incentive programme for climate-friendly industry launched:...
Berlin – The German government is aiming to make German industry carbon-neutral by 2045. In line with this commitment, on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action launched the world’s first bidding process for a programme to fund climate action contracts. Based on carbon contracts for difference, these climate action contracts promote investment in climate-friendly production facilities that would not otherwise be economically viable at this point in time. The programme is primarily aimed at operators of emis­sion-in­tens­ive plants, such as in the steel, paper, chemicals, metal and glass industries. Climate action contracts provide an incentive to develop and build the required technologies and infrastructure in Germany now. This will not only avoid around 350 million tonnes of CO2 over the term of the funding programme up to 2045, but is also designed to kick-start the urgently needed market transformation while simultaneously setting new international standards for efficient, low-bureaucracy support. The climate action contracts are intended as both a key tool for climate change mitigation and to strengthen Germany as a country with a long history of industry and innovation. EUR 4 billion has been made available over a 15-year term for the initial bidding process that has now been opened. Companies that were successful in the preparatory phase in the summer of 2023 can apply to take part in the initial bidding process within the next four months. As Germany’s economics minister announced at today’s press conference, the second round of bidding will be conducted later in 2024, with EUR 19 billion available for this purpose. Two further rounds of bidding are scheduled for 2025.A CMS team headed by lead partner Dr Jürgen Frodermann advised the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action on all aspects of subsidy, state aid, contract and energy law with regard to the support programme. The advice related in particular to drafting a funding policy and associated climate action contracts to be concluded between the state and companies eligible for funding. The work also included support around the notification procedure to the European Commission. In view of the pioneering nature of the funding programme, the CMS team had to deal with legal issues arising in connection with the programme in both a European and a national context, while also ensuring close alignment with the defined technical and economic objectives. The support was provided through an in­ter­dis­cip­lin­ary consortium headed by lead project manager Jülich, together with VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik and Deloitte. CMS Germany Dr Jürgen Frodermann, Lead Partner Dr Nico Hannemann, Senior Associate Dr Nora Zabel, Counsel Björn Hopen, Associate Nina Becker, Associate, all Contract Law Shaghayegh Smousavi, Partner, Energy / Regulation Dr Jakob Steiff, Partner Dr André Lippert, Partner Dr Sven Brockhoff, Counsel Dr Annchristin Streuber, As­so­ci­ate Con­stan­ze Schweidtmann, Associate, all Public Law / Subsidy Law Dr Michael Bauer, Partner Louisa Thomasberger, Associate, both State Aid Dr Martin Friedberg, Partner, TaxPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
28/02/2024
CMS advises Bruker on the multi-jur­is­dic­tion­al acquisition of ELITech,...
Frankfurt/Main – Bruker has agreed to acquire ELITechGroup, a provider of specialty in vitro diagnostic (IVD) systems, from TecFin S.à r.l., a controlled affiliate of PAI Partners, a pre-eminent private equity firm, for EUR 870 million in cash, excluding the carved out ELITech clinical chemistry business. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.A team of CMS Germany headed by lead partner Dr Hendrik Hirsch acted as lead transaction counsel on this landmark transaction for Bruker's MDx business covering all M&A aspects of the transaction, IVDR and other regulatory aspects, antitrust and FDI filings, the carve out of the clinical chemistry business and support on the employee consultation processes in France and the Netherlands. ELITechGroup, with over 500 employees and over 40 active patents, develops and commercializes innovative, proprietary molecular diagnostic (MDx) systems and assays, as well as niche biomedical systems and microbiology products. Its molecular diagnostic business accounts for the majority of the to-be-acquired revenues and provides the unique sample-to-answer (S2A) instruments InGenius® and Be-Genius® in the mid-to-high throughput MDx category with PCR diagnostic assays for infections and diseases. ELITechGroup, excluding the clinical chemistry business, achieved approximately EUR 150 million in revenues in 2023. ELITechGroup generates the majority of its revenues from Europe, with significant business also in North and Latin America. Its major R&D and production sites are in Italy, the United States, France and Germany. CMS Germany Dr Hendrik Hirsch, Partner, Co-Lead Dr Jacob Siebert, Partner, Co-Lead Dr Dirk Baukholt, Principal Counsel Dr Berrit Roth-Mingram, Counsel Dr Maximilian Stark, Senior Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Roland Wiring, Partner Lukas Burgdorff, Associate Noah Rodenkirchen, Associate, all Regulatory & Lifesciences Dr Thomas Hirse, Part­ner Se­basti­an Vautz, Senior Associate Lisa Dietrich, Associate, all IP Dr Michael Bauer, Partner Stefan Lehr, Partner Kai Neuhaus, Partner Moritz Pottek, Counsel Dr. Denis Schlimpert, Counsel Kirsten Baubkus-Gerard, Senior Associate David Rappenglück, As­so­ci­ate Be­ne­dikt Christian Voss, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Thomas de la Motte, Partner Dr Markus Pfaff, Partner Dr André Frischemeier, Partner Hatice Aykel, Counsel Alisa Brehm, Senior Associate Thomas Schaak, Senior Associate Dr Sait Dogan, Associate, all Banking & Finance  Dr André Lippert, Part­ner Con­stan­ze Schweidtmann, Associate, both Real Estate & Public Dr Boris Alles, Partner Dr Theresa Kipp, Senior Associate, both Labor, Employment & Pensions CMS France Benoît Gomel, Partner Vincent Desbenoit, Associate Dylan Allali, all Corporate/M&A Caroline Froger-Michon, Partner Aurélie Parchet, As­so­ci­ate Ca­m­ille Baumgarten, Associate Sophie Yin, all Em­ploy­ment Claire Vannini, Partner Eleni Moraïtou, Coun­sel Lilia-Ori­ana Dif, Associate Ariane Rolin, all Competition & EU  Jean-Bap­tiste Thiénot, Partner Anaïs Arnal, Associate, both Intellectual Property Laurine Mayer, Associate, TMC Alexandre Chazot, Counsel, Banking & Fin­ance  Thi­erry Granier, Partner Renaud Grob, Partner, both Tax Arnaud Valverde, Senior Associate, Real Estate Olivier Kuhn, Partner Cécile Rebiffé, Counsel Mylène Garrouste, all Dispute Res­ol­u­tion Kawthar Ben Khelil, Coun­sel Jean-Pierre Malili, Associate, both Public law/In­fra­struc­ture CMS Italy Massimo Trentino, Partner, Corporate/M&A Maria Letizia Patania, Partner, Lifescience & Healthcare Gian Marco Lettieri, Senior Associate, Employment & Pensions Giulio Poggioli, Counsel Valerio Giuseppe Daniele, As­so­ci­ate Francesca Durante, Junior As­so­ci­ate  Arianna Toccaceli, Junior Associate, all Banking & Finance CMS Luxembourg Gérard Maitrejean, Partner Miruna Poenaru, Coun­sel Max­imili­an Helfgen, Associate, all Corporate/M&A CMS UK Jack Letson, Partner Lindsay McAllister, Associate, both Corporate/M&A David Dennis, Partner, Commercial CMS Netherlands Pieter van Duijvenvoorde, Partner Robert Jong, both Corporate/M&A Nigel Henssen Fleur van Assendelft de Coningh, both Employment Edmon Oude Elferink, Partner Marijke van der Vossen, both Antitrust, Competition & Trade CMS Serbia Radivoje Petrikić, Partner Mila Drljević, both Corporate/M&A CMS Austria Dieter Zandler, Partner Vanessa Horaceck, both Competition & EU CMS Ukraine Maria Orlyk, Partner Diana Valyeyeva CMS Turkiye Döne Yalçın, Partner Arcan Kemahlı,  Sa­ba­hat­tin Öztemiz Taner ElmasPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
21/02/2024
CMS advises MVZ Laaff on sale to amedes
Stuttgart – The founder of medical laboratory MVZ Laaff, Prof. Helmut Laaff, has sold MVZ Laaff GmbH with its facilities in Freiburg, Heilbronn and Ulm to the amedes Group. amedes is a leading German lab services provider, operating a number of healthcare centres throughout Germany with different specialisations. MVZ Laaff provides services in fields of medicine including derma­to­path­o­logy, general pathology, immunohistology, molecular pathology and cytology, and is one of the leading laboratories in these specialist areas. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.A CMS team headed by lead partner Dr Christoph Lächler advised Prof. Helmut Laaff on all legal aspects of the transaction. The sale took place by way of an auction process. A particular focus of the advice was on structuring the transaction and the associated regulatory issues. CMS Germany Dr Christoph Lächler, Lead Part­ner Stefan-Ul­rich Müller, Partner Dr Jacob Siebert, Partner Viktoria Barthel, Senior Associate Tobias Kalski, Senior As­so­ci­ate An­dreas Kazmaier, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Roland Wiring, Partner Dr Siham Hidar, Senior Associate, both Regulatory Dr Harald Kahlenberg, Partner Angelika Wieczorkowski, Senior Associate, both Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Stefan Voss, Partner Lukas Potstada, Counsel, both Real Estate Dr Martin Mohr, Partner, TaxPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
20/02/2024
CMS advises HIRMER Group on sale of Travel Charme Hotels & Resorts to REWE...
Leipzig – The HIRMER Group has sold Travel Charme Hotel GmbH & Co. KG with its 13 exclusive hotels and resorts across Germany, Austria and Italy to DSR Hotel Holding GmbH. Travel Charme is regarded as an expert in the premium segment of the leisure hotel industry. It operates hotels in top locations, particularly in the Baltic region and in the Alps. The acquisition of Travel Charme boosts DSR Hotel Holding’s portfolio to a total of 35 hotels, thus expanding its market position in the German and Austrian holiday hotel sector. The transaction is currently awaiting approval from the merger control authorities. The parties agreed not to disclose further details.A CMS team headed by Dr Jochen Lux advised the HIRMER Group on all legal aspects of the sale. The company also relied on the expertise of CMS when it acquired Travel Charme in 2018. The Munich-based HIRMER Group is wholly owned by the Hirmer family. It employs some 1,800 people and operates in the fields of fashion retail, real estate management and development and in the hotel industry. DSR Hotel Holding is majority owned by DER Touristik, making it part of the REWE Group. It operates and markets a high-quality hotel portfolio comprising both growth-oriented hotel/resort brands and traditional individual hotels. CMS Germany Dr Jochen Lux, Lead Partner Dr Kevin Schmidt, Senior As­so­ci­ate Madeline Göbel, Senior As­so­ci­ate Theresa Bendix, Project Manager Nadine Fröhlich, Project Manager, all Corporate/M&A Dr Martin Mohr, Partner, Tax Dr Rolf Hempel, Partner Martin Cholewa, Counsel, both Antitrust, Competition & TradePress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
14/02/2024
CMS advises automotive supplier Webasto on sale of charging business to...
Cologne – Webasto, a leading global automotive supplier headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich, has sold a majority stake in its charging solutions business. The business includes charging cables, mobile chargers and wallboxes. The German company is one of the 100 largest suppliers to the automotive sector worldwide and will remain invested in the division as a minority shareholder. It intends to focus on its core business segments going forward. In 2022, Webasto took the strategic decision to seek an investor for the charging solutions business. The buyer is private equity firm Transom Capital Group, based in Los Angeles, USA. The two companies signed a purchase agreement on 7 February 2024. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.A CMS team headed by lead partner Klaus Jäger advised Webasto on all legal aspects of the sale. The German CMS team worked closely with CMS teams from Mexico City and Beijing, as well as US law firms Miller & Martin PLLC and Locke Lord LLP. The sales process was highly complex, partly due to the fact that prior to the sale the unit in question needed to be restructured by taking appropriate action across a number of different jurisdictions. Webasto has relied on the expertise of CMS in the past, most recently when acquiring all the shares in Luxembourg company Carlex Glass. Established in 1901, automotive supplier Webasto focuses on roof systems and on vehicle electrification in its development, manufacturing and sales operations. The product range includes openable and fixed roofs, electric high-voltage heaters and batteries and thermo management solutions. Webasto’s customers range from manufacturers of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and boats to dealers and end customers. In 2022, the group generated sales of over EUR 4 billion and employed some 16,800 people across more than 50 locations worldwide. CMS Germany Klaus Jäger, Lead Part­ner Anna-Lena Löcherbach, Counsel Philipp Knopp, Senior As­so­ci­ate Domin­ic Zimmer, Associate Nina Fink, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Angela Emmert, Partner Lennard Martin Lürwer, Counsel Marcel Heinen, Senior Associate, all Labor, Employment & Pensions Dr Sebastian Cording, Partner Lars Howe, Associate Dr Markus Kaulartz, Partner Dr Reemt Matthiesen, Partner, all TMC Dr Alexandra Schluck-Amend, Partner Manuel Nann, Senior As­so­ci­ate  Fran­ziska Fuchs, Senior Associate, all Restructuring and Insolvency Lars Eckhoff, Partner Dr Philipp Rohdenburg, Counsel, both Commercial Dr Dirk Smielick, Principal Counsel, Intellectual Property Dr Christian Scherer, Partner, Real Estate & Public Barbara Bayer, Counsel, Banking, Finance & Insurance Moritz Pottek, Counsel, Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Arne Burmester, Principal Counsel Conrad Gräwe, Legal Coordinator Romy Rosenhahn, Legal Co­ordin­at­or Stephanie Schulz, Legal Co­ordin­at­or Steven Washington, Legal Co­ordin­at­or Tag­rid Chahrour, Senior Legal Specialist Anke Clippingdale, Senior Legal Specialist Lisa Mattmann, Senior Legal Specialist Sarah Przybylski, Senior Legal Specialist Edris Trabzadah, Senior Legal Specialist Faraz Ahmad, Legal Specialist Jule Marie Holz, Legal Specialist Sofia Schreiner, Legal Spe­cial­ist Al­ex­an­der Stadahl, Legal Specialist, all Smart Operations CMS China Dr Falk Lichtenstein, Partner, Corporate/M&A CMS Mexico Giancarlo Schievenini, Partner, Corporate/M&A MILLER & MARTIN PLLC, Attorneys at Law, Atlanta, USA Mike Marshall, Partner Joe De Lisle, Partner Locke Lord LLP, Boston, USA Jonathan Young, PartnerPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com   
14/02/2024
CMS advises paint and coatings producer KANSAI HELIOS on the acquisition...
Cologne – KANSAI HELIOS has acquired the entire industrial coatings business of GREBE Holding, based in Weilburg in Hessen, Germany, which operates under the name WEILBURGER Coatings. WEILBURGER Coatings is a well-known manufacturer of industrial coatings and comprises of WEILBURGER Coatings GmbH in Weilburg and WEILBURGER Asia Limited in Hong Kong. The share purchase agreement was signed on February 9, 2024. With the acquisition, KANSAI HELIOS intends to significantly expand its strategic position as a system supplier and manufacturer of industrial coatings and extend its geographical presence internationally. The company will also gain additional expertise, distribution channels, production and storage capacities. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction. An international CMS team headed by Lead Partner Klaus Jäger and Christoph Schröer provided KANSAI HELIOS with comprehensive legal advice on the acquisition. The complexity of the transaction is characterized in particular by the size of the acquired Weilburger Coatings Group, which, in addition to the German companies, includes subsidiaries in Brazil, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Turkey and the USA. In addition to the actual purchase agreements in Germany and Hong Kong, CMS drafted and negotiated numerous other contracts. In addition to CMS teams in Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Turkey, France, Serbia, Austria and the United Kingdom, the law firms MILLER & MARTIN PLLC from the USA and Vaish Associates Advocates from India also provided support. KANSAI HELIOS regularly relies on the expertise of CMS, most recently in connection with the acquisition of all shares in CWS Lackfabrik GmbH (CWS), which specializes in powder coatings and synthetic resins, including the group companies in Germany, the USA, Denmark and Poland. KANSAI HELIOS, headquartered in Vienna, is part of the Japanese KANSAI PAINT Group. The company has a history of more than 170 years and is one of the major global players in the paints and coatings market. KANSAI HELIOS designs, produces and distributes industrial coating solutions, bleaching and cleaning chemicals, materials for sticking and sealing, high-quality resins, architectural paints and refinishing coatings throughout Europe and beyond. WEILBURGER Coatings was founded in 1900 at its current headquarters in Weilburg and has group companies in Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, India and China. With around 600 employees at seven production sites and several sales offices, the company is active worldwide and generates a turnover of around 150 million euros. CMS Germany Klaus Jäger, Lead Partner Dr Kai Wallisch, Part­ner Chris­toph Schröer, Senior Associate Dr Katharina Kapp, Associate Dr Henrik Meurer, As­so­ci­ate Domin­ic Zimmer, As­so­ci­ate Kath­rin Dengel, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Björn Herbers, Partner Moritz Pottek, Counsel Dr Denis Schlimpert, Counsel Kirsten Baubkus-Gerard, Senior Associate Dr Robert Bodewig, Senior Associate David Rappenglück, Associate, all Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Dirk Smielick, Principal Counsel Claudia Böhmer, Counsel, both IP Dr Angela Emmert, Partner Dr Andreas Hofelich, Partner Dr Mario Brungs, Counsel Lennard Martin Lürwer, Counsel Marcel Heinen, Senior Associate, all Labor, Employment & Pensions Michael Kamps, Partner Thorsten Hemme, Principal Counsel Dr Arne Schmieke, Senior Associate, all TMC Dr Martin Friedberg, Partner, Tax law Dr André Lippert, Partner Maike Füchtmann, Senior Associate, both Real Estate & Public Dorothée Janzen, Partner Dr Philipp Rohdenburg, Counsel, both Com­mer­cial Birgit Wagner, Legal Manager Conrad Gräwe, Legal Co­ordin­at­or Steven Washington, Legal Coordinator Anke Clippingdale, Senior Legal Specialist Edris Trabzadah, Senior Legal Specialist Faraz Ahmad, Legal Specialist Sofia Schreiner, Legal Spe­cial­ist Al­ex­an­der Stadahl, Legal Specialist, all Smart Operations CMS Beijing Falk Licht­en­stein Roxy Meng CMS Milan Daniela Murer Alessandra Cuni CMS Rome Fabrizio Spagnolo CMS Istanbul Döne Yalçın Merve Akkuş CMS Paris Thomas Hains Marion Berberian CMS Belgrade Maja Stepanović CMS Vienna Dr Dieter Zandler CMS London Russell Hoare Melanie Lane Focaccia Amaral L S Advogados, Brazil in association with CMS Renata Homem de Melo Fontes Carla Anastácio Lau, Horton & Wise LLP, Hong Kong in association with CMS Shirley Lau Albert Jok MILLER & MARTIN PLLC, USA Joe DeLisle Vaish Associates Advocates, India Shrinivas SankaranPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com