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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SCHĂ–NES 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.
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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.
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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.