Deals

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, based in Langenfeld, comprises a wide range of companies from the landscaping sector throughout Germany in its portfolio. The range of services includes gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, roof greening, facade greening and the maintenance of green spaces. Greenovis is one of the 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, based in Langenfeld, comprises a wide range of companies from the landscaping sector throughout Germany in its portfolio. The range of services includes gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, roof greening, facade greening and the maintenance of green spaces. Greenovis is one of the 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

ARQIS advised the Swiss investment group CONSTELLATION CAPITAL on the acquisition of the Exportverpackung Sehnde Group (EVS Group), including the Polish company Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o.o. The EVS Group is now part of the ARCA Group, which belongs to CONSTELLATION CAPITAL.

The acquisition is an important step in ARCA Group's growth strategy. At the same time, the merger expands the group's regional presence to northern Germany and Poland. After the merger, EVS Group will be fully integrated into the ARCA Group but will retain its independent brand and market presence. The EVS Group's Managing Directors will remain with the company, whilst the previous shareholders are reinvesting substantially in the ARCA Group.

The ARCA Group, a group of CONSTELLATION CAPITAL AG, is a rapidly growing provider of wooden packaging and packaging services in the DACH-region. This and future acquisitions are intended to establish a dense network of wooden packaging and packaging service companies that will benefit from synergies in the areas of purchasing, professionalization of processes and digital transformation.

The EVS Group, which comprises Exportverpackung Sehnde GmbH and Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o. o., provides packaging services with around 120 employees at its locations in Sehnde and Hanover in Lower Saxony. Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o.o., based in Zabrze, Poland, specializes in the production of packaging materials, the provision of packaging and other logistics services.

CONSTELLATION CAPITAL is a Swiss investment group founded in 1992 and based in Freienbach on Lake Zurich. It pursues a buy & build strategy that focuses on majority investments in medium-sized companies in the business service, education & lifestyle and healthcare sectors in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr Laeger has already advised CONSTELLATION CAPITAL on the acquisition of the ARCA platform and has provided comprehensive legal and tax advice on all further acquisitions for the platform, as well as on the acquisition financing. ARQIS was supported in Poland by a Polish team from Wolf Theiss.

Advisors to CONSTELLATION CAPITAL

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Partner: Dr. Lars Laeger Johannes Landry (Financing), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Anja Mehrtens, Martin Weingärtner (both HR Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Katrin Ludwig (M&A), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Dr. Lina Alami, Sabine Müller (both HR Law), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Marius Mesenbrink (Data Law), Legal Specialist: Tim Kottmann (HR Law)

Wolf Theiss (Poland): Peter Daszkowski, Bartosz Kuras (both Lead), Karolina Stawowska, Michal Zajaczkowski, Agnieszka Nowak-Blaszczak, Adrian Krzyzanowski, Jakub Pietrasik, Izabela Wiewiorka, Izabela Derylo, Kinga Kluszczynska, Oliwia Pecht

ARQIS advised the hg medical GmbH on all legal aspects of the acquisition of ptu medical GmbH. For this purpose, hg medical has signed a binding agreement to acquire ptu medical from its sole shareholder Tevfik Uzun. In future, both companies will combine their expertise to offer new product categories and a broader portfolio. The founder will remain with the company as CEO after the acquisition. All parties involved have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price.

hg medical is a leading manufacturer of orthopedic implants and specialises in medical technology solutions for the extremities and the spine. The company is headquartered in Raisting, Bavaria, and also has a site located in the USA.

ptu medical, based in Spaichingen, Baden-Württemberg, is a leading manufacturer of orthopedic drills, cutting instruments and implants for the spine, extremities and trauma surgery.

Elisa Patricia Suhl, Head of M&A at hg medical, added: “The acquisition of ptu medical marks hg medical’s first add-on acquisition. This is a transformational moment for both organizations. We are firmly convinced that the combination of hg medical and ptu medical will be highly value-creating for our customers and highly synergistic for our group. We warmly welcome Tevfik and his full team into the group.”

ARQIS, under the lead of partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, advised hg medical on all legal aspects of this transaction. hg medical and its shareholder Astorg relied for the first time on the legal advice of ARQIS. For the re-investment of the founder, ARQIS worked together with a team from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Advisor to hg medical

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead), Laura Ally-Rizzi (Internal Project Management, both Transactions), Partner: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Carolin Schlütter-Lückel (both Transactions), Tim Bresemann, Diana Puchowezki (both Real Estate), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Anna Hellmann, Anna Munsch, Luzia Schulze Froning (all HR Law), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Finn-Ole Münchow (Regulatory), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia

ARQIS advised the shareholders of B+T Group on all legal aspects of the sale of their shares to the investment fund Igneo. An agreement for the sale of 90 percent of the shares in B+T Group to the investment fund Igneo Infrastructure Partners has been signed. Ralf Bohn, the former indirect majority shareholder and managing director, will remain with the company as minority shareholder and CEO. The transaction is still subject to the usual regulatory approvals under antitrust and foreign trade law and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price.

The sold B+T Group, based in Alsfeld, Hesse, operates at 11 locations in Germany and France. The company's main focus is on the construction and operation of processing plants and power stations. These are used to recycle non-recyclable waste and to utilise its energy and material potential.

Igneo, part of the First Sentier Investors Group, currently manages 20 billion US dollars in assets on behalf of over 200 investors. Its focus is on renewable energies, digital infrastructure, waste management, water supply and transport/logistics.

An ARQIS team headed by Andreas Dietl and Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider advised the B+T Group and its shareholders on this transaction, in particular also accompanying the prior sales of the holdings B+S Papenburg Energie GmbH and EBS Concept GmbH to Steinbeis Holding and B+T Horn Energie GmbH to Kronospan.

Advisor to B+T Group

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Andreas Dietl, Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider (both M&A, Lead), Partner: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Counsel: Dennis Reisich, Jens Knipping (both Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Carolin Schlütter-Lückel (M&A), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (HR Law)

Cohen Gresser (Paris): Johannes Jonas, Pierre Wolnan (both Corporate/M&A), Angéline Duffour (Employment Law)

MARCK (Antitrust, AWV): Dr. Georg Schmittmann

Arendt & Medernach (Luxembourg – Re-Investment): Carsten Opitz, Pol Reckinger (both Corporate/M&A)

ARQIS has successfully achieved the planning approval for Saxony Minerals & Exploration AG (SME) to reopen a mine for the extraction of important raw materials for the energy transition. The Saxon Mining Authority (Sächsisches Oberbergamt) has approved the general operating plan for SME's ‘Erzbergwerk Pöhla’ project with a planning approval dated from 30 September 2024.

Tungsten, tin, zinc, fluorspar, copper, indium, iron, silver and cadmium are to be extracted from the Pöhla-Globenstein deposit in Saxony. The focus is on tin and tungsten, which are considered critical to the German and European economies. These raw materials are essential for batteries, for example, and thus for the transformation of energy and mobility. All in all, the security of raw material supply is increased, while at the same time the German economy's dependence on global supply chains is reduced. The impact on nature has been fully assessed and is minimal, as an existing underground mine from the former GDR era is being used and reopened.

An ARQIS team, headed by Dr. Friedrich Gebert, has been advising the project developer SME for many years. More than twelve years have passed since the planning approval was first submitted. The approval comprises several hundred pages. During the mandate, ARQIS also managed the external engineering firms and environmental auditors in their consultations with the relevant state authorities. Complex permitting and plan approval procedures, including for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, are regularly part of the advice provided by ARQIS’ focus group ‘Regulatory’.

Advisor to Saxony Minerals & Exploration AG

ARQIS (Berlin/Dusseldorf): Lead: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Partner), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Associate), Managing Associate: Luise Schüling, Associates: Hannah Düwel, Finn-Ole Münchow, Clara Schmidt