CMS advises Ufenau on the sale of Altano International GmbH
Ufenau sells Altano International GmbH (Altano) to a subsidiary of Bridgepoint Europe VIII Investments S.à r.l., which is held on behalf of certain funds managed by Bridgepoint Advisers UK Limited. Ufenau acted through Ufenau Continuation 3 SLP, a fund exclusively advised by Ufenau Capital Partners GmbH. The acquisition is still subject to the usual competition and foreign trade law approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Altano is an international group specialising in equine veterinary services. Since Ufenau’s investment through the Ufenau V German Asset Light fund in 2017, the group has grown from a single veterinary clinic to an international organisation with around 110 clinics and ambulatory practices in 15 countries, with approximately 2,600 employees. Altano operates in Europe, North America, and Oceania, generating annual revenues of more than EUR 350 million. Its range of services includes general and emergency care, diagnostic imaging, surgery, sports medicine, and reproductive medicine. In 2022, Altano was transferred to the newly launched Ufenau Continuation 3 Fund to secure and expand the group's future development and international buy-and-build strategy. Under Ufenau’s majority ownership, Altano has evolved into a leading integrated platform of equine veterinary facilities.
Bridgepoint’s investment marks the start of the next phase in Altano’s international development.
Ufenau Capital Partners is a privately owned Swiss Investor Group headquartered at Lake Zurich which advises private and institutional investors with their investments in private equity. Ufenau is focused on investments in service companies in German-speaking Europe, Iberia, Poland, the Benelux region, the UK, and the USA, investing in Business Services, IT-Services, Education & Lifestyle, Healthcare Services, and Financial Services sectors. Since 2011, Ufenau has invested in around 500 service companies globally. Ufenau manages over 5 billion euros in assets under management.
A team of CMS Switzerland advised Ufenau in Swiss legal matters in connection with the transaction. The CMS team was led by Dr Daniel Jenny (Partner) and Florian Jung (Senior Associate) and also comprised Maxine Notstain (Counsel), Dr Alexander Salamon (Associate), Raphael Hammer (Attorney Trainee, all Corporate/M&A), Miryam Meile (Senior Associate, Employment Law), Dr Dirk Spacek (Partner, Intellectual Property) and Sébastien Moret (Counsel, Public Law). GÖRG (Germany) acted as lead counsel for Ufenau.
