ARQIS News

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)

At the turn of the year 2024/2025, ARQIS will appoint four Managing Associates as Counsels. In doing so, ARQIS is strengthening strategically important areas and developing talents from its own ranks. Nora Stratmann, Benjamin Bandur, Malte Griepenburg and Martin Weingärtner will be promoted. ‘The expertise and commitment of the new Counsels will enable us to expand into new and to develop strategically important legal practice areas. All four are outstanding talents who not only have excellent legal expertise, but also always have the business objectives of our clients in mind,' says Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS.

With the appointment of Nora Stratmann, ARQIS is strengthening its commercial legal advice offer. ARQIS is thus responding to the growing market demand for excellent legal advice. At the same time, the promotion of Benjamin Bandur and Malte Griepenburg strengthens the steadily growing transaction practice. Martin Weingärtner, lawyer within the HR.Law focus group, will work at the interface between labour law and transactions. With its HR Transactions subgroup, ARQIS has a unique competitive advantage in the market and is able to provide targeted and efficient labour law support for transactions.

The new Counsels at ARQIS:

Benjamin Bandur (Munich) has been advising domestic and foreign private equity funds, investment banks, multinational strategic investors, venture capital funds as well as start-ups and their founders as a lawyer at ARQIS since 2019.

Malte Griepenburg (Dusseldorf) joined ARQIS as a lawyer in 2018. He advises clients, particularly in the private equity sector, on legal issues related to corporate law, mergers & acquisitions and medical law. In the future, he will further expand his advice in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector.

Nora Stratmann (Munich) has been working at ARQIS in the IP and Commercial areas since 2019. She will play a key role in the further development of ARQIS’ commercial law advisory services and advise on the drafting and negotiation of contracts. Her focus is on commercial and distribution law as well as advising on the interface with M&A transactions.

Martin Weingärtner (Dusseldorf) has been with ARQIS as a lawyer since 2018. Within the HR Law focus group, he advises clients on topics related to compensation and benefits. In the future, he will focus his advice on the interface between labour law and transactions. ARQIS is one of the leading providers in the market for advice in the area of HR transactions.

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

ARQIS advised the shareholders of Medizintechnik Rostock GmbH (MTR) on all legal aspects of the sale of a majority stake to SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH. SHS is acquiring the stake for its sixth generation of funds (SHS IV), thus securing the continuity of MTR. The two previous shareholders and Managing Directors of MTR will continue to be associated with MTR through a significant shareholding. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price.

Medizintechnik Rostock GmbH, with main locations in Rostock and Berlin, is a medium-sized company that provides patients with therapy devices for domestic use. MTR is one of the leading therapy and rehabilitation providers and, as a partner of 80 health insurance companies, provided over 140,000 treatments in movement, electro and compression therapy in 2023.

SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH, based in Tübingen, is a private equity fund that specializes in investments in the healthcare sector. SHS is currently investing from its sixth fund, which was launched in 2022 and has a volume of around €270 million.

The shareholders and MTR have been advised on healthcare law for many years by a team from D+B Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB headed by Dr. Ulrich Grau, who recommended ARQIS for this transaction. The team headed by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze then successfully pitched.

Advisor to Medizintechnik Rostock GmbH

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead, Transactions), Severin Steffens (Managing Associate, Transactions), Jasmin Grünen (Associate, Transactions), Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Jens Knipping, Dennis Reisich (both Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann, Diana Puchowezki (both Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Rolf Tichy (IP), Martin Weingärtner (Pensions), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Thomas Lipsky (IP), Jasmin Grünen (Transactions), Sabine Müller, Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (both HR Law), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Transactions)

D+B D+B (Berlin): Dr. Ulrich Grau (Lead), Nicole Jesche, Tatjana Teterjukow, Franziska Dickmann (all Healthcare Law), Dr. Sabrina Neuendorf (Data Protection Law)

ARQIS advised Inflexion Private Equity Partners on the acquisition of finanzen.net Group from Axel Springer.

finanzen.net operates the largest finance portal in the DACH region, finanzen.net, and the neobroker finanzen.net zero. 90 percent of the shares were acquired from the media company Axel Springer, the remaining shares were acquired from the two founders. Inflexion plans to integrate finanzen.net more closely after the acquisition. The company's three pillars, the finance portal finanzen.net, the neobroker zero and the trading software platform for semi-professional retail investors Traderfox, are planned to be further expanded and new savings and investment products will be integrated. The aim is to create synergies and promote the company's further growth. Following the transaction, the current management will remain in place. The acquisition is still subject to merger and investment control clearances.

Inflexion is a leading European private equity firm. The Inflexion funds, with offices in London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Frankfurt/Main, invest in a wide range of sectors. The current investment is made by Buyout Fund VI and is the second investment, following Tierarzt Plus Partner, in the DACH region since Inflexion opened its Frankfurt office earlier this year. All funds advised by Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP have assets under management of around eleven billion British pounds.

Die finanzen.net-Gruppe ist ein führendes Finanzportal in Deutschland, das seit 2010 Teil der Axel Springer-Gruppe ist und Daten zur aktuellen Entwicklung an den Weltmärkten bereitstellt. Zum Unternehmen gehören Ableger in Österreich, der Schweiz und den USA. Neben dem Portal gehören ein Neobroker und die Trading-Software Traderfox zur Unternehmensgruppe.

Axel Springer Group, headquartered in Berlin, is an internationally operating media and technology company. It is known for its various media brands.

ARQIS has been mandated by Inflexion for the first time. ARQIS partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze was recommended to Inflexion by a contact in the market. ARQIS advised Inflexion alongside a team from Latham & Watkins.

Advisor to Inflexion

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead) Christos Choudeloudis (Internal Project Lead, both Transactions), Partner: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Dr. Mirjam Boche (Risk), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates:, Nora Stratmann, Rolf Tichy (both IP), Paul Vermeulen (Litigation), Associates: Conrad Wiza (Transactions), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Hannah Düwel, Dr. Bernhard Gröhe, Finn-Ole Münchow (all Regulatory), Rebecca Gester, Thomas Lipsky (both IP), Jasmin Grünen (Tax), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan), Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (HR Law), Trademarks: Carolin von Fritsch, Legal Specialist: Konstantinos Strempas (Transactions)

ARQIS has advised the Japanese SINTOKOGIO Ltd. on the acquisition of all shares in AGTOS Gesellschaft für technische Oberflächensysteme mbH. The agreement aims to ensure the expansion of SINTO Group's portfolio in Europe, as well as the further long-term development and strategic growth of AGTOS with its headquarters in Emsdetten (Germany) and its factory in Konin (Poland). The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-December 2024.

SINTOKOGIO Ltd., a group of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, is a leading global manufacturer of foundry equipment with around 50 subsidiaries worldwide. The company supplies customers from a range of industrial sectors with solutions for surface treatment, environmental preservation, material handling, mechatronics and consumables.

AGTOS Gesellschaft für technische Oberflächensysteme mbH, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Emsdetten, specializes in the design and manufacture of wheel shot blast systems. Its customers include companies primarily from the automotive and automotive supply industry, as well as the fastening and mechanical engineering industries.

The mandate is headed by ARQIS partner Eberhard Hafermalz of the Japan Desk. The Japan Desk regularly advises Japanese companies on transactions in Germany.

Advisor to SINTOKOGIO Ltd.

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Partners: Eberhard Hafermalz (Lead, Japan Desk), Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi (Japan Desk), Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (Commercial/IP), Counsel: Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Dr. Yohei Nagata-Vogelsang (Japan Desk), Dennis Reisich (Tax), Managing Associates: Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Nora Stratmann (Commercial/IP), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Kiyomi Zimmer, Marius Mesenbrink (both Japan Desk), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Thomas Lipsky (IP), Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (HR Law)

ARQIS advised HÄRTHA GROUP GmbH on all legal aspects of the strategic expansion of its market position in the south of Germany. With the acquisition of Donau-Härterei GmbH, HÄRTHA is further expanding and consolidating its position in the attractive hardening market in southern Germany. At the same time, the core business of HÄRTHA GROUP in the field of surface and coating technology is strengthened and the successful growth strategy is consistently pursued. The transaction was put into effect in October 2024.

HÄRTHA GROUP GmbH, headquartered in Alsdorf (North Rhine-Westphalia), is an internationally operating and leading supplier in the field of metal refining. With twelve locations in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the Group specializes in heat treatment processes and coating solutions and has customers from various industries (electromobility, toolmaking, rail transportation, wind energy, medical technology and aviation).

Donau-Härterei GmbH, based in Neu-Ulm (Baden-Württemberg), has been active in the heat treatment business since 1989. The portfolio of the established company includes customers from various industrial sectors such as mechanical and plant engineering, construction and agricultural machinery, toolmaking and mobility. The previous management of Donau-Härterei will remain part of the company also after its integration into HÄRTHA GROUP.

The mandate is headed by ARQIS partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze. The team around ARQIS partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (private equity) regularly advises HÄRTHA on corporate acquisitions (most recently on the acquisition of Fortè Wärmebehandlung GmbH) and on real estate transactions headed by Dr. Ulrich Lienhard.

Advisor to HÄRTHA Group GmbH

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead, Transactions), Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Transactions), Johannes Landry (Restructuring), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Laura Ally Rizzi, Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Malte Griepenburg (all Transactions), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Nora Stratmann, Rolf Tichy (both IP), Associates: Hannah Düwel (Regulatory), Ebru Köroglu (Transactions), Thomas Lipsky (IP), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk/M&A), Anna Munsch (HR Law)

ARQIS advised Deichmann SE on the acquisition of shoe trademark rights from fashion group Esprit, providing advice on all insolvency law aspects. Deichmann SE has signed a binding agreement with Esprit for the acquisition of the shoe trademark rights and other intangible assets. The creditors' committees of the seven insolvent German Esprit companies and the insolvency monitor have already given their approval, as has the group holding company Esprit Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong.

On 1 August 2024, the Local Court of Düsseldorf opened the insolvency proceedings in self-administration for seven German Esprit companies. Deichmann has been a licensee of Esprit since 2019 and has been selling shoes of the fashion brand ever since. By acquiring the trademark rights, Deichmann can continue to offer the shoe collections in the long term.

Deichmann SE, based in Essen, was founded in 1913 and is 100 per cent family-owned. As the market leader in European shoe retailing, it is active in over 30 countries worldwide and employs over 49,000 people.

Until its insolvency, Esprit Europe GmbH, based in Ratingen near Düsseldorf, was the fashion group's parent company in Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, the Scandinavian countries, Poland and the UK. The group was active in around 40 countries.

The mandate is headed by ARQIS partner Johannes Landry.

Advisor to Deichmann

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Johannes Landry (Lead, Insolvency Law)

ARQIS has advised Megger Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in IPS Group.

Megger has increased its shareholding in IPS Group to a majority stake, allowing the company to transition into data analytics and asset performance management for electrical utilities. Megger, established in 1895, offers electrical testing and measuring equipment as well as electrical monitoring solutions, serving the Electrical Supply Industry. The IPS Group is a global software company with specialized solutions for energy supply companies, addressing Asset Performance Management.

The acquisition of IPS Group follows Megger’s initial investment in a minority stake of the firm in 2021 and aims to deepen the integration between the two companies. Dr. Andrew Dodds, joint CEO of Megger Group, commented, “Utilities and network operators face unprecedented challenges from integrating renewable energy sources, coupled with intensifying pressure on budgets and network reliability. We’re combining our legacy of precision measurement and safety with IPS’s cutting-edge software capabilities to offer comprehensive solutions to meet these modern challenges.”

The ARQIS team led by Dr. Lars Laeger has regularly advised Megger on M&A transactions in the past, including Megger’s acquisition of the Power Diagnostix Group in 2019 and the initial investment in IPS Group in 2021.

Advisors to Megger

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Dr. Lars Laeger (M&A, Federführung), Thomas Chwalek (M&A), Johannes Landry (Commercial); Counsel: Dennis Reisich (Steuerrecht); Associates: Katrin Ludwig, Giulia Kögel (beide M&A)

The acquisition of the Katharinenhof Group was part of a combined transaction. Next to the operations, the respective real estate portfolio was sold to funds managed by Civitas Investment Management Limited. The total transaction volume is indicated by the parties at slightly more than EUR 300 million.

Katharinenhof consists of 27 facilities that offer more than 3,000 places for inpatient care and assisted living. The operations will be taken over by the Alloheim Group completely. With this acquisition the company manifests its leading position within the sector and will widen its capacities especially in the areas of Berlin, Hamburg, Brandenburg and Saxony.

‘Katharinenhof and Alloheim are an ideal combination in many aspects: both companies focus on a high quality in care, attach great importance to training new skilled employees and are working on offering integrated forms of care,’ expresses Dr. Steffen Hehner, CEO of Alloheim Senioren-Residenzen SE, explaining the decision to take over Katharinenhof.

Alloheim Group is the largest private provider of inpatient and outpatient care services in Germany. Throughout the country the company operates 258 senior residences, 94 assisted living centres and 25 outpatient care services. In total Alloheim employs about 23,000 people and has capacities for more than 28,000 patients. With the acquisition the number of senior residences will increase to 285.

The combination of the acquisition of the operative business as well as the property portfolio offered particular challenges in both procedural and legal terms. The team led by ARQIS partner Dr. Ulrich Lienhard provided support in connection with the complex rental agreements with Civitas. The private equity team led by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze assisted Alloheim on the M+A side, as it has done on many occasions since 2010.

Advisors Alloheim Group

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead), Malte Griepenburg, Katrin Ludwig (Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard, Tim Bresemann (both Real Estate).

Partner: Dr. Christof Schneider, Johannes Landry (both Transactions), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Sina Janke (Compliance); Managing Associates: Christos Choudeloudis, Benjamin Bandur, Anselm Graf, Dr. Denis Schütz (Transactions), Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data.Law), Nora Stratmann, Rolf Tichy (both IP), Martin Weingärtner (Pensions); Associates: Rebecca Gester (IP), Ebru Köroglu, Conrad Wiza (both Transactions), Thomas Lipsky (IP), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan), Sabine Müller, Dr. Dennis Ratschkowski (both HR Law); Legal Specialists: Qing Xia (Transactions).

The US publisher Best Lawyers has for the first time ranked Germany's best commercial law firms for Handelsblatt. ARQIS is one of the leading law firms in Germany in the following areas:

• Corporate Law
• Data Security and Privacy Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law 
• and Litigation.

ARQIS received further top regional awards (Tier 1) for North Rhine-Westphalia in the following legal practices: 

• Capital Markets Law
• Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Data Security and Privacy Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Litigation
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Regulatory Practice
• and for Bavaria in the practice of Mergers and Acquisitions Law.

ARQIS was also honored in further regional rankings in Tier 2 and Tier 3:

• Regional Tier 2
  North Rhine-Westphalia: Arbitration and Mediation, Employee Benefits Law, Private Equity Law
  Bavaria: Corporate Law
• Regional Tier 3
  North Rhine-Westphalia: Insurance Law
  Bavaria: Intellectual Property Law, Litigation

The Best Lawyers Special ranks law firms in 60 legal practice areas according to the number of recommendations, divided into a national and a regional ranking. In addition, the ‘Law Firm of the Year’ award is granted in 23 legal practice areas considered to be particularly important according to Best Lawyers. For the evaluation, Best Lawyers uses a peer review survey in which lawyers vote for those colleagues they consider especially recommendable.

The complete list and a detailed list of all award-winning law firms can be accessed in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.