Deals

ARQIS advised Adelis Equity Partners on the acquisition of a majority stake in European IT Consultancy EITCO GmbH (EITCO), an IT consultancy specialized in enterprise content management (ECM). Through this partnership, private equity firm Adelis is expanding its portfolio in the technology sector and entering the German market. Simultaneously, the acquisition will support EITCO’s organic growth. The focus of further growth will be on expanding the company’s offering, enhancing its capabilities and extending its geographical footprint, therefore building on the strong track record of Adelis. The existing management team of EITCO will remain in place and will be a significant shareholder after the transaction. Further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price, were not disclosed.

Adelis Equity Partners, headquartered in Stockholm, is a leading, growth-focused private equity firm based in the Nordics. Since 2013, Adelis has been one of the most active investors in the Nordic middle-market with 46 platform investments and over 260 add-on acquisitions. Adelis has around € 4.5 billion of capital under management.

European IT Consultancy EITCO GmbH is a leading ECM specialist with headquarters in Berlin. Its clients include public sector organisations, regulatory bodies and enterprises with an increasing demand for digital content and document management. The company, with offices in Berlin, Bonn and Essen and about 200 employed FTEs, offers tailored solutions, based on either its own modern, modular arveo content services platform or leading third-party ECM software products.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze advised Adelis Equity Partners on the transactional aspects of the acquisition. Private equity forms a key focus of ARQIS’ transactions practice. Adelis instructed ARQIS for the first time in context with this initial German platform transaction.

Advisor to Adelis Equity Partners
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (lead), Christos Choudeloudis, Katrin Ludwig (Managing Associate, all Transactions), Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Transactions), Dr. Mirjam Boche (Dispute Resolution), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (HR Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP, Munich), Counsel: Christian Judis (Compliance, Munich), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, Munich), Martin Weingärtner (HR Law), Managing Associates: Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Paul Vermeulen (Dispute Resolution), Associates: Ivo Ertekin, Tim Meyer-Meisel, Steffen Schubert (all Transactions), Dr. Lina Alami (Munich), Dr. Tim Weill (both HR Law), Rebecca Gester (Commercial, Munich), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Paulina Hüttner (IP, Munich), Lia Papismedova (Real Estate)

Ashurst (Frankfurt am Main): Anne Grewlich, Sabrina Bremer (both lead), Mid Eum Joo, Britta Freitag, Petra Schott (all Financing)

Marck (Dusseldorf): Dr. Georg Schmittmann, Simon Philipp (both Merger Control)

ARQIS advised biogeen GmbH on all legal aspects of the acquisition of two biomethane plants in Bavaria from Steinbeis Holding and the Abel Group. This acquisitions expand biogeen's portfolio and open up a new region. The state-of-the-art plants, located in Mammendorf and Lauterhofen, Bavaria, have a total production capacity of around 80 gigawatt hours of biomethane per year. With the associated expansion of biogas production in southern Germany, biogeen is also making a sustainable contribution to the energy transition and the reduction of CO2₂emissions.

biogeen GmbH, headquartered in Münster, is a leading operator of biogas plants in Germany and specializes in the production and marketing of renewable energies such as bioelectricity, bioheat, bio-LNG, and biomethane. The company focuses on innovative, sustainable solutions to promote the energy transition and to reduce emissions.

Munich-based Steinbeis Holding manages the Steinbeis family's business assets through the acquisition of industrial holdings. Its investment strategy focuses on sustainable companies in the circular economy, environmentally friendly energy and ecological paper markets.

Abel Group is a service provider in the mobile communications, electrical engineering, and renewable energy sectors. It offers solutions for private and business customers, thereby contributing to digitalization and sustainable energy supply. The group, which has over 900 employees, is headquartered in Engelsberg, Upper Bavaria.

ARQIS, with a team headed by partners Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze and Dr. Friedrich Gebert, provided comprehensive legal advice to biogeen GmbH on these transactions. ARQIS advised biogeen for the first time in connection with these acquisitions. The transactions are further examples of ARQIS' proven expertise in the field of Green M&A.

Advisor to biogeen GmbH
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Partner), Katrin Ludwig, Christos Choudeloudis (Managing Associates, all Transactions) Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Partner, Regulatory), Partner: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP, Munich), Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax), Managing Associates: Conrad Wiza (Transactions),Tim Bresemann, Diana Puchowezki (both Real Estate), Hannah Düwel (Regulatory), Jasmin Grünen (Tax), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Legal Specialist: Tim Kottmann (HR.Law)

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Sumitomo Electric Industries on the transfer of pension obligations from Sinterwerke Herne to Funding Solutions Deutschland through a share deal. Funding Solutions Deutschland FSD GmbH acquires all shares in Sinterwerke Herne GmbH and will operate as a so-called pension company under the name Funding Solutions Sinterwerke Herne Pensions GmbH. The pension company will manage and fulfill pension obligations of Sinterwerke Herne. All pension liabilities are secured by a contractual trust arrangement (CTA) managed by Helaba Pension Trust e.V..

Sinterwerke Herne GmbH manufactured sintered components for the automotive and power tool industries. The company was acquired by Japan's Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. in 2019.

Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan, was founded in 1897. The company is a global leading manufacturer of electrical wires and fiber optic cables. SEI supplies customers, e.g. in the automotive, information, electronics and energy sectors. Listed on the Prime Market (5802) of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and part of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX, the company achieved a total turnover of US$ 29 billion in 2023 with over 290,000 employees worldwide.

Funding Solutions Deutschland has been active as provider of pension fund transactions since 2018. Currently FSD manages ten pensioner firms with a total volume of over €330 million. Companies from a wide range of sectors, including the industry, the service sector, the regulated banking industry and the pharmaceutical sector, rely on FSD's concept and expertise.

An ARQIS team headed by partners Eberhard Hafermalz and Tobias Neufeld advised Sumitomo Electric Industries on all legal aspects of this complex transaction. ARQIS is one of the market leaders for pension buy-outs. In transactions of this type, pension obligations are either transferred to separately established pension companies through a spin-off or the former operating entity, after all assets and liabilities except for the pension obligations have been removed, is transferred to a pensions provider in a share deal. This structure allows a de-risking of pension obligations – a practice common in Anglo-Saxon countries, while the pension buy-out market in Germany is comparatively young but rapidly growing.

Advisor to Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Eberhard Hafermalz (Lead, Japan Desk), Tobias Neufeld (Lead, Pensions), Johannes Landry (Insolvency Law), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR.Law), Counsel: Dr. Yohei Nagata-Vogelsang (Japan Desk), Dennis Reisich (Tax, Munich), Associate: Kiyomi Zimmer (Japan Desk), Legal Specialists: Miho Kuramochi (Japan Desk), Tim Kottmann (Pensions), Roxana Spieß (HR.Law)

ARQIS has provided comprehensive legal advice to Greenovis Group, a portfolio company of Aurelius Growth Capital, on its merger with Frissen & Zohren GmbH. As a result, Greenovis further expands and strengthens its presence in North Rhine-Westphalia. Frissen & Zohren GmbH offers a wide range of landscaping and green maintenance services primarily to public sector clients, enabling the Greenovis Group to significantly strengthen its market position in this segment. This acquisition is a further step for Greenovis on its way to becoming the leading German gardening and landscaping specialist.

Greenovis Group, headquartered in Langenfeld, unites a wide range of companies from the landscape gardening sector throughout Germany. Among the services offered are gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, green roofs, facade greening, and the care and maintenance of green spaces. It is one of the market leaders in this sector.

Frissen & Zohren GmbH, based in Niederkrüchten, has been operating since its foundation in 2002 with around 50 employees. With a focus on landscaping, including outdoor facilities, green spaces, playgrounds, planting and clearance, it also provides professional green space maintenance services.

A team headed by Thomas Chwalek advised Greenovis on all legal aspects of this transaction. This transaction is another example of ARQIS' expertise being relied upon by the Greenovis Group. Most recently, Thomas Chwalek's team advised Greenovis on two mergers in the Berlin area.

Advisor to Greenovis
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Thomas Chwalek (Lead, Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Counsel: Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, Munich), Managing Associates: Severin Steffens (Transactions, Lead Due Diligence), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Christos Choudeloudis, (Transactions), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial, Munich), Marius Mesenbrink (Data.Law), Anna Munsch (HR.Law)

ARQIS provided legal advice to the Greenovis Group, a portfolio company of Aurelius Growth Capital, on the further growth of the group. Through the mergers with Stadtgrün Potsdam and TEGLa, Greenovis can successfully continue its growth strategy. The Greenovis Group is strengthening its presence in the area of Berlin by partnering with Stadtgrün Potsdam GmbH and TEGLa GmbH. Through the acquisition of TEGLa, the Greenovis Group is also expanding its portfolio in the areas of civil engineering, earthworks, waste disposal and the manufacture of automatic irrigation systems. As part of Aurelius' buy-and-build strategy, these acquisitions are further steps for the Greenovis Group on its way to the top of the German gardening and landscaping sector.

Greenovis Group, headquartered in Langenfeld, unites a wide range of companies from the landscape gardening sector throughout Germany. Among the services offered are gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, green roofs, facade greening, and the care and maintenance of green spaces. It is one of the market leaders in this sector.

Stadtgrün Potsdam GmbH, based in Potsdam, specializes in gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, earthworks and civil engineering and the maintenance of green spaces. The company has been providing its services in the area of Potsdam since 1990.

TEGLa GmbH, based in Ludwigsfelde and Potsdam-Grube, has been offering services in the field of gardening and landscaping, civil and earthworks as well as waste management since 1996.

ARQIS advised Greenovis on all legal aspects of these mergers with a team headed by Thomas Chwalek. In the context of these transactions, Greenovis has once again decided to rely on the advice of ARQIS – most recently also within its merger with Goertz Galabau.

Advisor to Greenovis

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Thomas Chwalek (Lead, Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data.Law), Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, Munich), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Severin Steffens, Christos Choudeloudis, (both Transactions), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial, Munich), Sabine Müller (HR.Law, Munich)

ARQIS advised the SCIO Automation Group on all legal aspects of its merger with Elektro Eggers. As a result, the international industrial automation group SCIO Automation is expanding its service portfolio in the Process Solutions division to include essential services in the areas of PLC programming and switchgear construction. At the same time, SCIO Automation is strengthening its market position through the resulting synergies and entering further customer segments in the areas of water treatment, food and animal feed production as well as pharmaceuticals.

The SCIO Automation Group, headquartered in the Palatinate town Frankenthal, supports companies on their way to Industry 4.0 as an international end-to-end automation platform. As a system integrator, SCIO automates production and logistics processes and, as an innovator, develops value-adding and customer-specific automation products in the fields of autonomous mobile robots, software, clean room and food intralogistics as well as industrial labeling. The group combines several companies under the SCIO Automation brand as well as other individual brands at over 40 locations in eight countries worldwide.

Elektro Eggers GmbH, based in Grasberg, Lower Saxony, is an automation specialist focusing on the areas of PLC programming, process control technology, hardware design, engineering services as well as electrical assembly and installation. Within the SCIO Automation Group, Elektro Eggers will be integrated as a subsidiary of VESCON Process GmbH, which operates further locations in Cologne, Kriftel, Flensburg and Schuby.

An ARQIS team headed by Thomas Chwalek provided comprehensive legal advice to SCIO Automation on this transaction. ARQIS advised SCIO Automation for the first time on this merger.

Advisor to SCIO Automation

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Thomas Chwalek (Lead, Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP, Munich), Counsel: Christian Judis (Compliance, Munich), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, Munich), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Christos Choudeloudis (Transactions), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial, Munich), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Anna Munsch (HR.Law), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Transactions), Legal Specialist: Tim Kottmann (HR.Law)

ARQIS has advised Alphatron Marine, a subsidiary of Nisshinbo / Japan Radio Co., Ltd. (JRC), on the acquisition of Argonics GmbH and Argonav GmbH.

Alphatron Marine, a subsidiary of the Japanese manufacturer in the area of wireless communications JRC, is a leading international supplier of integrated bridge solutions for the naval and maritime industry. JRC in turn belongs to Nisshinbo Group, a listed producer active in electronics, wireless communications, automotive brakes, chemicals and textiles.

Argonics GmbH manufactures innovative products for inland navigation, including solutions for automated navigation, vessel monitoring, simulation and control. In 2020, Argonics founded the company Argonav, which specialises in inland ECDIS navigation systems. Both companies are technological leaders in the field of inland waterway navigation.

With the acquisition, Alphatron Marine gains essential components for autonomous navigation and will be able to enhance operational efficiency and expand into new business areas. Together, the companies plan to enhance research and development of new elemental technologies for autonomous navigation and introduce new business models utilizing digital technologies.

The transaction was supported legally by an ARQIS team headed by the two Partners Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi and Dr. Meiko Dillmann.

Advisor to JRC / Alphatron Marine

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Partner: Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi, Dr. Meiko Dillmann (both Japan Desk/M&A, Lead), Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Dimitrios Christopoulos (Commercial), Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier (Labour), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law/Compliance), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Counsel: Dr. Yohei Nagata-Vogelsang (Japan Desk/M&A), Associates: Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk/M&A), Rolf Tichy (Commercial, IP), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate)

ARQIS advised Greenovis Group, a portfolio company of the investment company Aurelius, on all legal aspects of the merger with Goertz Galabau. Through this partnership, Greenovis Group is entering another region in Germany and expanding the group's expertise in large-scale landscaping construction projects in the residential, commercial outdoor and sports facilities sectors. As part of Aurelius' buy-and-build strategy, the acquisition is a further step for the Greenovis Group on its way to the top of the German gardening and landscaping industry.

Greenovis Group, headquartered in Langenfeld, unites a wide range of companies from the landscape gardening sector throughout Germany. Among the services offered are gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, green roofs, facade greening, and the care and maintenance of green spaces. It is one of the market leaders in this sector.

Goertz Galabau GmbH, based in Großröhrsdorf near Dresden, realises large and complex landscaping projects in residential environments, commercial outdoor facilities and sports facilities throughout Germany.

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Greenovis on this merger with a team headed by Thomas Chwalek. Greenovis Group relied on the advice by ARQIS for the first time during this transaction.

Advisor to Greenovis

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Thomas Chwalek (Lead, Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance, München); Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, München), Martin Weingärtner (HR Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Severin Steffens, Christos Choudeloudis, (beide Transactions), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP, München), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial, München), Sabine Müller (HR Law, München)

ARQIS advised the shareholders of Smart Mobile Labs AG, a leading German provider for private 5G-as-a-service, on the sale of all shares to Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), one of the world's leading providers of shared network infrastructure. The merger of the two companies will establish one of the most important players for private 5G solutions in Europe.

Smart Mobile Labs AG, based in Munich, was founded over ten years ago as a spin-off from Nokia and specializes in private 5G networks and video transmission over mobile networks. In addition to its technical expertise and its patented live video streaming software solution EVO (Edge Video Orchestrator), the company brings important contacts to leading German mobile network operators and technology providers.

Boldyn Networks is one of the world's leading providers of shared network infrastructure. The company, headquartered in the United Kingdom, so far provides communication infrastructure in the UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Finland, Italy, Hong Kong and the United States.

A team headed by ARQIS partner Dr. Mauritz von Einem advised Smart Mobile Labs AG on all legal and tax aspects of this transaction. Teams around Dr. Mauritz von Einem regularly advise companies and start-ups from the tech sector.

Advisor to Smart Mobile Labs AG

ARQIS (Munich): Partners: Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Lead, Transactions), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Benjamin Bandur (Transactions), Dennis Reisich (Tax), Managing Associates: Anselm Graf (Transactions), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Giulia Kögel (Transactions), Sabine Müller (HR Law), Legal Specialist: Konstantinos Strempas

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21) on the acquisition of Kneip Leitungstiefbau und Infrastrukturtechnik GmbH. This strategic partnership will expand internal expertise and increase efficiency in important energy and water supply processes for DEW21. DEW21 will further focus on its central role as supplier. At the same time, the merger of the companies is an important step towards the sustainable and future-proof implementation of the energy transition.

Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21) operates throughout Germany and is the main and alternative supplier of energy and water for the city of Dortmund and the surrounding area. DEW21 is also one of the largest municipal producers of renewable energy in North Rhine-Westphalia and is committed to developing a climate-friendly energy supply and expanding renewable energies.

Kneip Leitungstiefbau und Infrastrukturtechnik GmbH specialises in the planning, coordination and implementation of civil engineering projects, in particular in the field of cable laying and pipeline construction. For around 50 years, the company has been supporting utility companies in the construction of utility infrastructure.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr. Friedrich Gebert and Dr. Christof Schneider advised Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH on all legal aspects of this transaction. ARQIS regularly advises companies in the energy sector and provides them with legal support e.g. on their way to the energy transition.

Advisor to Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21)

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Berlin): Partner: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory, Lead), Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider (Transactions, Lead), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR.Law), Counsel: Anja Mehrtens (HR.Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Managing Associates: Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data.Law), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Associates: Hannah Düwel, Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (both Regulatory), Luzia Schulze Froning (HR.Law), Conrad Wiza (Transactions)

ARQIS advised St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster on all legal aspects of the acquisition of a majority stake in Verbund Katholischer Kliniken Düsseldorf gGmbH – (VKKD) from the Archdiocese of Cologne. The hospital group comprises four hospitals and a health center in the Düsseldorf area. Main objective of the new partnership is the sustainable promotion of further development of the hospital group and to pursue the goal of the North Rhine-Westphalia hospital plan of offering patients a wide range of medical services on an economically solid basis. At the same time, Franziskus Stiftung is expanding its medical offer in the Düsseldorf region. A minority stake will remain with Katholische Stiftung Marien Hospital zu Düsseldorf. St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster is linked to the Katholische Stiftung Marien Hospital zu Düsseldorf by their shared Franciscan origins. For example, Franciscan nuns have been active at the Marien Hospital in Düsseldorf for many years. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the necessary authorities.

St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster is one of the largest confessional hospital groups in Germany, currently operating 14 hospitals and ten facilities for disabled and senior citizens in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bremen. Franziskus Stiftung is among other things also invested in outpatient rehabilitation centers, nursing services and hospices.

Dr. Nils Brüggemann, Chairman to the Board of Franziskus Stiftung, commented on the new partnership: ‘The deep regional roots with a broad, specialized range of medical services are an excellent match for the strategy of Franziskus Stiftung. VKKD is a central player in Düsseldorf's healthcare system with a solid competitive position that has just been confirmed by the NRW hospital plan. In this important region, we are significantly expanding our medical services in the interest of patient well-being. With their combined sales volume of 1.6 billion euros and an additional 300 million euros, Franziskus Stiftung and VKKD will continue to jointly expand their strengths in both patient care and economic terms.’

This transaction demonstrates the strength of ARQIS teams around Jörn-Christian Schulze in the healthcare sector. The contact to Franziskus Stiftung was also initiated through a hospital deal. In 2017, the team advised the operator of the Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus Hiltrup, Orden der Missionsschwestern vom Heiligsten Herzen Jesu e.V., on the sale to the current client.

Advisor to St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (lead), Dr. Maximilian Backhaus (internal project management), Malte Griepenburg (all Transactions), Partners: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Johannes Landry (Transactions), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance, Munich), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Laura Ally Rizzi , Katrin Ludwig, Jasmin Grünen (all Transactions), Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Amir Katanbafteh (Transactions), Rebecca Gester (IP), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Sabine Müller (HR Law, Munich), Lia Papismedova (Real Estate), Dr. Dennis Ratschkowski, Luzia Schulze Froning (both HR Law)

ARQIS advised Collaboration Factory AG on all legal aspects of the acquisition of a majority stake by the global US investment company Level Equity. Through this strategic growth investment, the innovations of the Munich-based software provider Collaboration Factory will be driven forward while accelerating the expansion strategy, particularly the expansion into new geographic and vertical markets. With cplace, the company offers a software solution for company-wide project and portfolio management. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Collaboration Factory, headquartered in Munich, was founded in 2014 and is known for its next-generation software solutions for project and portfolio management (PPM). Cplace supports leading companies in providing tailored solutions for their specific requirements. Its customers include numerous DAX 40 companies, among others from the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Level Equity, headquartered in New York, is a private investment firm operating worldwide and specialised in providing capital for fast-growing software and technology companies. Since its foundation, Level Equity has raised 3.1 billion US dollars in capital and invested in over 100 companies. Cplace is Level Equity's first platform investment in Germany.

The transaction and the reinvestment of the existing shareholders, including that of founder and CEO Dr. Rupert Stuffer, were comprehensively advised by a team headed by the two ARQIS partners Dr. Mauritz von Einem and Dr. Christof Schneider. Prior to the sale of the stake, a structured bidding process with several bidders took place. A team from Arendt, headed by partner Carsten Opitz, provided advice under Luxembourg law on the extensive re-investment. ARQIS advised Collaboration Factory for the first time; the mandate resulted from a recommendation.

Advisor to Collaboration Factory:

ARQIS (Munich): Partners: Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Lead), Dr. Christof Schneider (Co-Lead), Johannes Landry (Financing), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier (Labour Law), Counsel: Benjamin Bandur (Transactions), Dennis Reisich (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Associates: Anselm Graf, Giulia Kögel (both Transactions), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Sabine Müller (Labour Law)

Arendt (Luxembourg): Partner: Carsten Opitz, Associate: Pol Reckinger