The Legal 500

Legal Developments worldwide

• Bär & Karrer Advises xFarm in Series A Financing Round

  The Swiss start-up company xFarm raises EUR 3 million in a financing round involving United Ventures and TiVenture. xFarm SA operates a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform that aims to facilitate the digitalization of agricultural businesses, simplifying data collection and analysis, improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural fields.
  - BÄR & KARRER LTD.

• Bär & Karrer wins Mergermarket award for Switzerland M&A Legal Adviser of the Year 2019

  At the Mergermarket European Awards Ceremony held in London on 4 December 2019, Bär & Karrer was recognized as "Switzerland M&A Legal Adviser of the Year" for the second time in a row.
  - BÄR & KARRER LTD.

• OLG Stuttgart affirms protection of collective trademarks featuring designations of origin

  While it is not possible to completely shut out other market participants from indications of origin, a trademark’s reputation must not be unduly exploited according to the Oberlandesgericht (OLG) Stuttgart, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart.
  - MTR Rechtsanwalte

• Hengeler Mueller advises Commerzbank on the proposed merger with comdirect

  Commerzbank AG has decided to make a public tender offer for the remaining shares of comdirect bank Aktiengesellschaft ("comdirect"). Commerzbank holds approx. 82 per cent of the shares in comdirect, approx. 18 per cent are in free float. The tender offer is subject to a minimum acceptance threshold of 90 per cent. It is intended to merge comdirect into Commerzbank, preferably via a merger related squeeze-out.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises Fortum on acquisition of majority in Uniper

  Fortum Oyj ("Fortum"), a leading clean-energy company headquartered in Espoo, Finland, has entered into agreements to acquire all Uniper shares held by funds managed by Elliott and Knight Vinke, a total in excess of 20.5%, increasing Fortum's share in Uniper to more than 70.5%. The purchase price amounts to approx. EUR 2.3 bn. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances in Russia and the United States. The transaction will be financed with existing cash resources and committed credit facilities.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises Waterland on partnership with IT system provider netgo

  Waterland Private Equity ("Waterland") and IT system provider netgo entered into a partnership aiming at a further acceleration of the company’s growth. The service portfolio of netgo is to be expanded via targeted acquisitions. netgo founders Patrick Kruse and Benedikt Kisner will retain a significant stake in the company and will continue to serve as managing directors. Founded in 2007, netgo group now has a staff of about 350 across 17 different locations.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises managing board of PNE AG on investment agreement and takeover offer by Morg

  The managing board of PNE AG ("PNE") with the approval of the supervisory board signed an investment agreement with Photon Management GmbH ("Photon"). According to the provisions of the investor agreement Photon announced its intention to make a public takeover offer at a price of EUR 4.00 per PNE share in cash.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises SCHÖNES LEBEN group on acquisition of MEDIKO

  SCHÖNES LEBEN group, a portfolio company of the independent European private equity firm Waterland, continues to grow. In the course of an add-on transaction the group acquires a majority stake in MEDIKO Pflege- und Gesundheitszentren GmbH.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises BNP Paribas on financing of planned acquisition of parts of Danaher's life

  Sartorius, a leading partner to the biopharmaceutical industry and laboratories, has signed an agreement to acquire parts of Danaher’s Life Science Portfolio. BNP Paribas is financing the transaction, acting as sole lead arranger, bookrunner and underwriter.
  - Hengeler Mueller

• Hengeler Mueller advises Corsair Capital on IDnow financing round

  Corsair Capital LLC ("Corsair") has made a USD 40 million equity investment in IDnow. IDnow is a leading provider of Identity Verification-as-a-Service solutions. Corsair is a private equity firm focused on investments in the financial and business services industries.
  - Hengeler Mueller