CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre and CMS Hasche Sigle advises Deutsche Beteiligungs AG on acquisition of BRÖTJE-Automation from CLAAS

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre and CMS Hasche Sigle advises Deutsche Beteiligungs AG on acquisition of BRÖTJE-Automation from CLAAS

Frankfurt am Main – As part of a management buy-out, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG), its DBAG Fund V and BRÖTJE management have acquired Claas subsidiary BRÖTJE-Automation GmbH and its subsidiaries ("BA Group"). Going forward, DBAG will hold some 17% of the BA Group, with the remaining shares being held by DBAG Fund V and the BRÖTJE management team. The purchase agreement is currently awaiting approval from the cartel authorities. The purchase price was not disclosed.

An interdisciplinary team led by lead partner and corporate lawyer Dr Hendrik Hirsch advised DBAG on all aspects of the transaction.

Headquartered in Wiefelstede (Lower Saxony), the BA Group manufactures machinery and production facilities for the assembly of aircraft, plus transportation and field assembly equipment. With about 250 employees, it also offers comprehensive services in this sector. The company anticipates sales of more than EUR 80 million in the 2011/2012 financial year.

Listed company Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (www.deutsche-beteiligung.de) is a leading private equity firm, and with more than 45 years of experience the oldest company in this sector in Germany. DBAG invests in successful companies whose products and services give them a pre-eminent market position. It has some EUR 800 million under management.

Advisers CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre
Alexandre Delhaye
Caroline Parat

Advisers CMS Hasche Sigle
Dr Hendrik Hirsch, Lead Partner, M&A
Bernhard Maierhofer, M&A, Due Diligence
Dr Markus Pfaff, Financing
Dr Petra Brenner, Financing, Due Diligence
Dr Thomas Link, Tax
Marcus Fischer, Tax, Due Diligence

Due diligence:
Dr Markus Rasner, Corporate
Matthias Heilmeier, Corporate
Dr Malte Grützmacher, IP
Petra Goldenbaum, Trademarks
Bernhard Freund, IT
Johanna Hofmann, Real Estate
Reiner Kurschat, Employment Law
Dr Antje-Kathrin Uhl, Employment Law
Dr Tobias Polloczek, Employment Law
Björn Waterkotte, Commercial
Jörg Baumgartner, Commercial
Johannes Landau, Commercial

For further information, please contact:

• Florence Jouffroy, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre, +33 1 47 38 40 32,
• Nicolas Merigeau, NewCap., +33 1 44 71 94 98,