CMS advises shareholders in software security start-up Protected Networks on sale of company to SolarWinds

Munich – High-Tech Gründerfonds, Milestone Venture Capital and the company’s founders have sold their shares in Protected Networks to SolarWinds. The Berlin-based start-up was established in 2009. Its 8MAN product offers cross-sector solutions for access rights management and enables companies to protect sensitive data against unauthorised access. 8MAN will now be integrated into the existing product portfolio of US firm SolarWinds for marketing worldwide.

A CMS team headed by lead partners Dr Michael Wangemann and Stefan-Ulrich Müller advised the shareholders in Protected Networks on all legal aspects of the transaction. The Munich team recently advised High-Tech Gründerfonds and other VC investors on an exit involving the sale of Propertybase to BostonLogic.

Bonn-based High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) describes itself as the biggest seed investor in Germany. Specialising in early-stage deep-tech investments, it also assists companies in the search for investors in subsequent rounds of financing.

Milestone Venture Capital, located in Hösbach, invests in young software companies whose products have high growth potential and which are aiming to expand into international markets.
SolarWinds, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Austin/Texas, is a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT management software. Its product portfolio enables companies around the globe to monitor and manage the performance of their IT environments. SolarWinds employs some 2,500 people worldwide.

CMS Germany

Stefan-Ulrich Müller, Lead Partner
Dr Michael Wangemann, Lead Partner
Dr Martin Kolbinger, Partner
Dr Jessica Mohaupt, Senior Associate
Florian Seelig, Associate
Sandra Kuley, Legal Consultant, all Corporate/M&A
Dr Heino Büsching, Partner
Dr Olaf Thießen, Counsel
Dr Martin Mohr, Counsel
Dr Andreas Gerten, Counsel, all Tax
Stefan Lüft, Partner
Theresa Dörendahl, Senior Associate, both Intellectual Property

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