Germany
Business law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek recorded revenue of EUR 189.9 million in fiscal 2020, just EUR 4.8 million below last year’s high level. With 2019 revenue amounting to EUR 194.7 million, the decline is therefore 2.5 percent. “Considering an extraordinarily challenging year, the revenue decline of only a few percentage points – particularly coming from a very high level – is a sound result. In addition, we have managed to reduce costs and are enjoying a stable earnings situation
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised 4basebio AG (in the future 2invest AG) on the spin-off of its genomics and DNA manufacturing business to 4basebio SE and the subsequent relocation of its headquarters to Cambridge (England). The new 4basebio SE was subsequently listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on the London Stock Exchange. Despite the challenging structure, the carve-out was implemented in just six months
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Cologne office, legally advised FCR Immobilien AG on a segment change from Scale to Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s Regulated Market (General Standard). The Heuking team also assisted FCR Immobilien AG in a related cash capital increase with subscription rights for existing shareholders and a public offering. That placement has now been completed
Germany
A team led by capital markets expert Dr. Thorsten Kuthe legally advised The Grounds Real Estate Development AG on successfully placing its first convertible bond in the amount of EUR 12 million with significant oversubscription. The listed company’s shareholders were granted subscription rights. The transaction was accompanied by Quirin Privatbank AG. The Grounds Group realizes residential projects in German metropolitan regions
Germany
A team led by Dr. Katharina Prasuhn advised energy company RDG GmbH & Co. KG (RDG) on the acquisition of oil production operations from Wintershall Dea GmbH. After all relevant authorities had approved the acquisition, the transaction was closed on February 5, 2021
Germany
With a team led by Partner Dr. Rainer Herschlein, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised Wagner Fernmeldebau Holding GmbH on the acquisition of a majority stake in Benzina Kommunikation GmbH of Freiburg. The seller’s sole shareholder and general manager is M. Benzina who will remain with the company even after closing of the transaction. The company name will also remain unchanged
Germany
A team led by Dr. Peter Christian Schmidt, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Hamburg office, legally advised the majority shareholder of ECOROLL AG on the sale of all shares to PINOVA. The seller’s shareholders are a North German family office and the management of ECOROLL AG. ECOROLL AG is a leading supplier of tools and machines for mechanical surface finishing of metal components
Germany
The China Business Law Journal has recognized a transaction led by Heuking attorneys Dr. Bodo Dehne and Sen Gao as one the "China Deals of the Year 2020". Every year the international China Business Law Journal identifies the landmark China-related deals. Among this year’s winners is the acquisition of the European apt Group by the Chinese Mengtai Group, which won a structured and competitive bidding process with the support of Heuking. Dr
Germany
A team led by Dr. Michael Sörgel, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Düsseldorf office, legally advised Böhme & Weihs GmbH Industrieholding’s shareholders, Prof. Dr. Norbert Böhme, Rüdiger Weihs, Norbert Seeliger, and Joachim Wendel, on the sale of a majority stake to proALPHA. Prof. Dr. Norbert Böhme and Rüdiger Weihs will continue to hold shares in the company and to manage the company jointly with Christian Zoll
Germany
Ariane Neubauer will reinforce the Venture Capital practice in Berlin as an Equity Partner – Gesine Dechow increases the number of notaries working at Berlin’s office to five Effective February 1, 2021, Ariane Neubauer will reinforce the Corporate and Venture Capital practice at Heuking’s Berlin office. Ariane Neubauer (36) joins Heuking as an Equity Partner from Noerr, where she started her career ten years ago and practiced as an Associated Partner most recently
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised PANDION AG on placing its 2021/2026 corporate bond. Due to high demand, the issue volume was increased to EUR 45 million. The bond, this year’s first issue in this segment, met with high demand from institutional and private investors and was significantly oversubscribed. Cologne-based PANDION AG has been developing, realizing and marketing high-quality residential projects since 2002
Germany
A team led by Dr. Ali Șahin, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised TECNO-PLAST Industrietechnik GmbH and the shareholder family on the sale to Indutrade group. Complementary businesses in the group will create additional potential for TECNO-PLAST’s expansion while a decentralized and entrepreneurial group approach will ensure the company’s independent development. The founding family arranged the company’s succession with the transaction
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised CR Capital AG on stock corporation law in connection with the distribution of a stock dividend and an associated rights issue. In addition, CR Capital AG was advised on the transaction by Munich-based law firm Velte Kalveram with a team led by Peter Kalveram, who regularly advises the company. On December 10, 2020 CR Capital AG’s annual meeting resolved the distribution of a dividend of EUR 0
Germany
A team led by Boris Dürr, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Munich office, legally advised KATEK SE on its acquisition of the business operations of insolvent Leesys – Leipzig Electronic Systems GmbH. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities and agreements with the works council and IG Metall trade union
Germany
2020 turned out to be a year with a lot of new questions – including in employment law. The two fictional characters, Mr. Fuchs, a lawyer at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, and Ms. Winter, Head of Human Resources at a client’s company, discuss the year’s most important employment law topics in a video conference. There have been news about the 2019 CJEU ruling on the recording of working hours by Emden Labor Court relating to the documentation of working hours. Mr
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised bio healthcare company Belano Medical AG on issuing a convertible bond. Belano Medical intends to use the issue volume of up to EUR 15 million to accelerate its corporate growth. The interest rate is fixed at 8.25% p.a. with annual maturity, paid in arrears. The bond will mature in five years. In a first tranche, Belano Medical is targeting an issuance volume of some four million euros in December
Germany
97.68% of the creditors attending eterna Mode Holding GmbH’s second creditors’ meeting approved an extension of the 2017/2022 bond with a volume of EUR 25 million until June 3, 2024. A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, legally advised eterna in connection with the bond extension. By extending the maturity of the 2017/2022 bond, which originally matured in March 2022, to June 3, 2024, the term of the promissory note loan will be extended to June 10, 2023
Germany
A team led by Dirk W. Kolvenbach, Partner at the Düsseldorf office, and Michael Pauli from the Cologne office of Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek provided legal advice to WuXi Biologics, a global company with leading open-access biologics technology platforms, on the acquisition of a drug substance facility from Bayer AG. The signing took place on December 21, 2020. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory assessment, is expected to close in the first half of 2021
Germany
With a team led by Marcel Greubel, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised ARRI on the sale of ARRI Media, which specializes in post-production and film distribution, to Seal group effective March 1, 2021. ARRI Media will not only retain its entire range of services but will further expand it with new technologies. Following the acquisition, all German sites and all ARRI Media jobs will be retained
Germany
Effective January 1, 2021, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek will admit two Salaried Partners from its own ranks into equity partnership. Nine Senior Associates will become Salaried Partners. “The fact that in a year such as this one which was particular in so many ways, two lawyers have accomplished the step to become Equity Partners and nine Senior Associates will become Salaried Partners once again highlights our internal potential
Germany
A team led by Dr. Peter Zimmermann, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek in Düsseldorf, advised AXA Investment Managers on the acquisition of Logistik-Center Berlin-Süd in Königs Wusterhausen on behalf of a fund. The logistics center was developed and sold by ECE. The transaction is scheduled to close in early 2021. The logistics center was completed in fall 2020. It comprises some 56,000 square meters and it is fully leased to Ceva Logistics, a member of shipping and logistics group CMA CGM
Germany
A team led by Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised 7C Solarparken AG on a capital increase of about EUR 12.9 million. In a private placement, 3,235,644 new shares were placed with institutional investors in Germany and other European countries at a price of EUR 4.00 per share. The new shares are entitled to dividends from January 1, 2020. The transaction was several times oversubscribed
Germany
On November 30, 2020, the Düsseldorf Insolvency Court issued resolutions terminating the insolvency proceedings of six German subsidiaries of the Esprit Group. As a result, Esprit Holdings Limited, listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, remains the sole shareholder of these subsidiaries that account for the key part of Esprit Group’s business operations. A team led by Dr. Marc Scheunemann and Prof. Dr
Germany
With a team led by Partner Dr. Wolfgang Renner, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek assisted IT Service Center Berlin in the “Digital File” award procedure. The invitation to bid was issued by the Senate Administration for the Interior and Sports of the State of Berlin, which awarded the contract for the introduction of the Digital File in all Berlin government agencies to Materna in an EU-wide award procedure. The total project volume is estimated at some EUR 200 million
Germany
With a team led by Partner Dr. Rainer Herschlein, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised VR Equitypartner‘s portfolio company Kälte Eckert GmbH on the acquisition of SOS Kältetechnik GmbH based in Königsdorf near Munich. The stake was sold by Alexander Stiegler Iurato, the sole shareholder who will continue to operate as SOS Kältetechnik’s general manager
