2 December 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has promoted Dr Max Schulz (36) to the partnership as of 1 December 2024. Since joining GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ six years ago, Max Schulz has become an integral and important part of the competition law practice and GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ in general. His promotion to the partnership is a further significant step in the firm's steady organic growth and the expansion of the competition law practice.

Dr Markus Wirtz, competition law partner of the firm: "We are very happy to welcome Max Schulz to the partnership. With his commitment and work, Max Schulz has made an important contribution to the success of GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ's competition law practice. His promotion to the partnership underlines the firm's commitment to promoting its own young talents." Dr Achim Glade, corporate partner, adds: "We are very pleased that Max Schulz is now part of our partnership. He is an excellent competition lawyer who is highly regarded by our clients. With him as new competition law partner, we are setting the course for the sustainable development of our competition law practice."

Max Schulz studied law at the Universities of Bonn and Oxford. Between 2013 and 2016, he worked as a research assistant at the Chair of Civil Law, Commercial and Economic Law at the University of Bonn while completing his doctorate.

Max Schulz advises German and international companies on all matters of German and European competition law. His practice focuses on advising cooperation agreements, competition law litigation, in particular in connection with the abuse of market power, as well as national and international merger control proceedings, including investment control issues. In addition, in recent years Max Schulz has developed a particular expertise in the area of sports competition law and digital regulation, including under the DMA and the Data Act.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal employees, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganization, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here.

21 October 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has advised Mycronic AB (Mycronic) on the acquisition of Modus High-Tech Electronics GmbH (Modus) – a leading supplier of automated optical inspection systems for electronics volume production.  

Founded in 1999, Modus currently has more than 1,650 scanners and 650 camera systems in service. The company provides solutions for automated optical inspection of coating, soldering, and components within printed circuit board assembly. Modus has also developed solutions for fuel cell inspection.

Ivan Li, Sr VP High Volume at Mycronic: "Modus’ inspection systems are an integral part of conformal coating production lines, where Mycronic’s High Volume division is a global leader in electronics conformal coating solutions. Together we will be able to offer complete and optimized solutions to our respective customers."

Mycronic is a Swedish high-tech company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of production equipment with high precision and flexibility requirements for the electronics industry. Based in Täby and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, the Group has subsidiaries in China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

Earlier this year, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advised Mycronic's Global Technologies division on the acquisition of Vanguard Automation, Karlsruhe. The company has developed a technology as well as automated equipment for 3D microfabrication of optical interconnects. GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has been advising Mycronic with respect to its German activities for over a decade.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf): Dr Achim Glade (Partner), Dr Jan Hermes (Partner), Dr Felix Bangel (Associate), Dr Annika Dippel (Associate), Dr Jonas Prauß (Associate) – all Corporate/M&A; Dr Silke Möller (Partner) – Competition

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal employees, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganization, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here.

9 October 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has appointed Jens Poll as Salary Partner with effect from October 1, 2024. Dr. Marco Sustmann, Partner of the firm, comments on the appointment as follows: “We are very pleased to continue the excellent cooperation with Jens Poll as Salary Partner. For many years, he has contributed significantly to the success of the firm through his great commitment. He is an essential pillar of the corporate/litigation team due to his successful work in the area of capital markets and corporate litigation.” Dr. Alexander Retsch, Partner of the firm, adds: “The appointment of Jens Poll as Salary Partner confirms the positive development of the litigation practice in our firm, to which he contributes greatly. Thereby, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ underlines the firm’s striving for organic growth and sustainable development opportunities.” 

Jens Poll studied law at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen with stays abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and the University of Warsaw, Poland. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a research assistant at the chair of (†) Prof. Dr. Gerald Spindler in Göttingen and in a leading German law firm. He received his doctorate from the Georg-August University of Göttingen in 2018.

He began his professional career in October 2018 as an associate at GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ. Prior to that, Jens Poll worked as a trainee lawyer at GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ and at the German Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar.

Jens Poll advises German and international clients on all aspects of corporate and commercial law. His practice focuses on corporate and capital market disputes as well as comprehensive advice and representation of companies, associations and their bodies in (extra-)judicial disputes.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal employees, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganization, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here.

20 August 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Kito Crosby, a global leader in the lifting and securement industry, on the acquisition of the crane system manufacturer eepos GmbH (“eepos”). The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2024.

Since its founding in 2006 in Wiehl, Germany, eepos has introduced flexible lifting solutions to workplaces worldwide, focusing on the development of modular, smooth-running cranes made from lightweight aluminum. With the acquisition of eepos and its subsidiaries across the US, Mexico, Brazil, Hungary, Turkey, France, South Africa, China, and India, eepos joins Kito Crosby’s expansive portfolio of installed lifting solutions, including the Kito, Harrington and Erikkila brands. Additionally, the acquisition furthers Kito Crosby’s presence in the attractive manufacturing sector as well its leadership in ergonomic solutions enabling safer working practices for workers globally.

Robert Desel, CEO of Kito Crosby: “As an innovative leader in modular crane systems, eepos perfectly complements and expands our hoists and cranes portfolio. The eepos team shares our core values and we are thrilled to welcome them to Kito Crosby and extend our employee ownership program to all eepos employees.”

Kito Crosby is the global leader of the lifting and securement industry. With global engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and operations, the company provides a broad range of products and solutions for the most demanding applications. 

This is the second acquisition in Germany for Kito Crosby advised by GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf): Dr Jan Hermes (Partner), Dr Annika Dippel (Associate), Dr Jonas Prauß (Associate) – all Corporate/M&A

Dr Silke Möller (Partner), Dr Thomas Willemsen (Associate) – both Competition

Kliemt.Arbeitsrecht (Düsseldorf): Dr Alexander Ulrich (Partner) – Labour Law

Hoyng Rokh Monegier (Düsseldorf): Thomas Schmitz (Partner) – IP Law

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal employees, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganization, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here.

5 August 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has advised The Nutriment Company (TNC) on the acquisition of the renowned pet food supplier PETMAN. The takeover of PETMAN is already the third acquisition this year for the Swedish company.

PETMAN is a brand of Hundt Tiefkühlprodukte und Dienstleistungen GmbH & Co. KG and a pioneer in the German BARF industry based in Wuppertal. Known for its innovative approach to 100% natural pet food, the supplier offers a wide range of high-quality products for dogs, cats, fish and reptiles.

With the acquisition of PETMAN, TNC aims to enhance its own capabilities in this segment and further expand its reach in the German market.

Anders Kristiansen, CEO of The Nutriment Company: "Petman is a great company that, compared to many other competitors in the market, has always had a consistent focus on customer satisfaction rather than a purely product-oriented mindset. This fits perfectly with The Nutriment Company, where we combine both – vertically integrated operations and production capabilities, but always based on customer needs."

The Nutriment Company (formerly Voff Premium Pet Food), based in Stockholm, Sweden, is Europe's leading supplier of natural premium pet food. This is the third acquisition in Germany for the M&A team of GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf): Dr Jan Hermes (Partner), Dr Annika Dippel (Associate), Dr Jonas Prauß (Associate) – all Corporate/M&A

KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht (Düsseldorf): Dr Alexander Ulrich (Partner) – Labour Law

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal employees, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganization, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises The Nutriment Company on the acquisition of PETMAN

28 May 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advised US-based Textron Inc. on the acquisition of Amazilia Aerospace GmbH – a leading developer of digital flight control, flight guidance and vehicle management systems for civil manned and unmanned aircraft.

Textron eAviation GmbH, a subsidiary of Textron, has acquired substantially all the assets of Amazilia Aerospace and has integrated the workforce and facilities of Amazilia based in Munich. “We’re excited to welcome Amazilia Aerospace’s talented employees and innovative technologies to the Textron eAviation team” said Kriya Shortt, President and CEO of the Textron eAviation segment. 

With the acquisition of Amazilia Aerospace, Textron eAviation strengthens its internal capabilities supporting its focus on positively impacting the next generation of flight. Christoph Dörhöfer, President and CEO of Amazilia Aerospace: “We look forward to joining a company that is as passionate as we are about advancing aviation technology."

As one of the most innovative players in the general aviation sector, Textron eAviation, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is a business segment of the multi-industry company Textron Inc. The S&P 500-listed Textron with around 34,000 employees leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services.

Dr Achim Glade (Partner), Dr Jan Hermes (Partner), Dr Annika Dippel (Associate), Dr Jonas Prauß (Associate) – all Corporate/M&A

Dr Silke Möller (Partner), Maximilian Schoone (Associate) – both Competition and FDI

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal staff, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of M&A, litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganisation, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Textron Group on the acquisition of Amazilia Aerospace

14 March 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ comprehensively advises ABACON CAPITAL GmbH (ABACON) in connection with the intended voluntary public takeover offer of Elbe BidCo AG to the shareholders of the MDAX-listed wind and solar park operator ENCAVIS AG (Encavis).

Today, Elbe BidCo AG (Bidder), a holding company controlled by investment funds, vehicles and accounts advised and managed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its affiliates, has decided to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all outstanding shares of Encavis against a cash consideration of EUR 17.50 per Encavis share. This corresponds to a valuation of Encavis in the amount of EUR 2.8 billion.

In this context, the Bidder has signed binding agreements with ABACON and other members of the already existing shareholder pool as well as additional significant shareholders, pursuant to which they will transfer their Encavis shares to the Bidder outside of the offer. This will be done partly by sale against payment of a purchase price in cash in the amount of the offer price and partly against a re-investment (rollover) in the Bidder. ABACON and the other shareholders will retain an indirect stake of approximately 13% in Encavis after the rollover.

ABACON CAPITAL is a future-oriented, family-owned investment firm active in the fields of sustainable energy, pioneering mobility solutions and deep tech. ABACON was founded by Albert Büll, a visionary entrepreneur and investor who has successfully established numerous companies such as the B&L Group, Encavis and noventic group.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ has already advised ABACON and other members of the existing shareholder pool in connection with the existing pool agreement.

Dr Marco Sustmann (Partner), Dr Andreas Merkner (Partner), Dr Alexander Retsch (Partner), Dr Philipp Elixmann (Associate) – all Corporate

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ currently has around 30 lawyers and a total of around 60 legal and non-legal staff specializing in corporate and competition law. In these fields, the firm has made a name for itself in M&A, litigation and compliance in addition to its traditional advisory services. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises DAX, MDAX and TecDAX companies, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors both nationally and internationally on corporate and partnership law, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, antitrust fines and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is in particular on the resolution of corporate law, capital market law and antitrust law conflicts.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises ABACON CAPITAL GmbH in connection with the announced takeover of Encavis AG by Elbe BidCoAG

22 February 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Mercedes-Benz Group AG in connection with a new share buyback policy that was announced by the group yesterday. Based on such policy, the future Free Cash Flow from the industrial business (as available post potential small-scale M&A) generated beyond the approx. 40 percent dividend payout ratio of Group Net Income shall be used to fund share buybacks with the purpose of redeeming shares.

In this context, Mercedes-Benz Group AG has resolved to conduct a further share buyback programme which is expected to commence immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing share buyback programme. Through the new share buyback programme it is intended to repurchase own shares worth up to EUR 3 billion (not including incidental costs) on the stock exchange and subsequently cancel them.

As already in connection with the ongoing share buyback programme, through which it is intended to acquire own shares worth up to EUR 4 billion (not including incidental costs) and subsequently cancel them, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Mercedes-Benz Group AG also in connection with the new share buyback programme. 

Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Inhouse Legal):

Dr Wolfgang Bartels (General Counsel), Jan Philipp Komossa (Senior General Counsel), Dennis Döpfer (Senior Legal Counsel)

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf):

Dr. Marco Sustmann (Partner), Dr. Alexander Retsch (Partner), Dr. Jakob Müllmann (Associate) – all Corporate

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ, with currently approx. 30 lawyers and a total of approx. 60 legal and non-legal staff, specializes in the areas of Corporate & Competition. In addition to its traditional advisory services, the firm has also made a name for itself in the fields of litigation and compliance. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises, nationally and internationally, companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors in corporate and partnership law, on mergers and acquisitions, on restructuring and reorganisation, in cartel fine and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on resolving conflicts under corporate law, capital markets law and antitrust law.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Mercedes-Benz Group AG on share buyback policy and further share buyback

22 January 2024

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Vion Food Group (Vion), a leading international producer of meat, meat products, and plant-based alternatives, in connection with its strategic adaptation in the German market.

As part of a comprehensive package of measures developed by Vion for its activities in Germany, the Dutch-German meat group has sold its cattle slaughterhouse and the plant for the production of end consumer products in Altenburg, Thuringia, as well as the ham specialist Ahlener Fleischhandel to the Tönnies Group. In addition, the pig processing plant in Perleberg, Brandenburg, was sold to the medium-sized company Schlachterei Uhlen GmbH from Lengerich. The projects are each subject to antitrust approvals, among other. Following the transactions, a total of around 700 employees will be transferred to the respective buyer. In addition, Vion will close its largest German pig slaughterhouse in Emstek. Glade Michel Wirtz negotiated and provided legal advice on the transactions to Vion.

With these changes, Vion is responding to the current tense situation in the German meat industry. Due to the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), the sector is losing important export opportunities and is facing increased competition on the global market. In response to this development, the industry is focusing more on the domestic market and striving for self-sufficiency.

Vion is an international meat and food industry group based in Boxtel in the south of the Netherlands and is currently one of the largest meat companies in the world with 29 production sites in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium and sales organizations in sixteen countries.

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf):

Dr Achim Glade (Partner), Dr Jan Hermes (Partner), Dr Annika Dippel (Associate) – all Corporate

Dr Markus Wirtz (Partner), Dr Silke Möller (Partner), Dr Laura Gellisch (Associate) – all Competition

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ currently has around 25 lawyers and a total of around 50 legal and non-legal staff specializing in corporate and competition law. In these fields, the firm has made a name for itself for litigation and compliance in addition to its traditional advisory services. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises companies listed on the DAX, MDAX or TecDAX, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors both nationally and internationally on corporate and partnership law, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and reorganization, antitrust fines and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is on the resolution of corporate, capital markets and antitrust disputes.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises Vion Food Group on the sale of three locations

13 December 2023

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises MDAX-listed technology group GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (GEA) on the corporate law implementation of the planned Say on Climate. As part of yesterday's announcement of the "Climate Plan 2040", which will be published in early March 2024, GEA announced that shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on the path to Net Zero at the upcoming Annual General Meeting as part of a consultatory resolution. GEA will thereby be the first company in the DAX index family to seek a Say on Climate resolution from the Annual General Meeting.

GEA's Climate Transition Plan 2040 describes in detail how the company intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero at every link in the value chain by 2040. GEA had already announced this ambitious goal in 2021. Moreover, GEA is raising its medium-term climate targets for the entire value chain by 2030 and, for the first time, is setting a short-term target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its own activities (Scope 1 and 2) by 2026. Alongside the medium-term targets raised, the net zero target is currently in the process of being validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). GEA plans to invest a total of EUR 175 million in specific measures to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations by 2040.

As a long-standing advisor to GEA's Annual General Meetings GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises the company in particular on the corporate law conceptualization and implementation of the Say on Climate at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Although the consultation of the Annual General Meeting on a company's climate transition plan has been tried and tested several times by companies abroad in recent years, in Germany – following an initial precedent this year – it still represents uncharted territory under stock corporation law. In terms of legal policy, however, the Say on Climate has already been under discussion for some time, so that is not unlikely that the German legislator will take action in the future.

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (Düsseldorf):

Dr Nadine Sterley (Chief Sustainability Officer), Bastian Laue (Vice President Corporate Legal Affairs), Dr Jonathan Boeckmann (Legal Counsel)

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ (Düsseldorf):

Dr Andreas Merkner (Partner), Dr Friedrich Schulenburg (Partner), Dr Philipp Elixmann (Associate) – all Corporate

GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ currently has around 25 lawyers and a total of around 50 legal and non-legal staff specializing in corporate and competition law. In these fields, the firm has made a name for itself in litigation and compliance in addition to its traditional advisory services. As a focused boutique law firm, GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises DAX, MDAX and TecDAX companies, medium-sized companies as well as foreign, globally active groups and investors both nationally and internationally on corporate and partnership law, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, antitrust fines and merger control proceedings as well as on compliance issues. In the area of litigation, the focus is in particular on the resolution of corporate law, capital market law and antitrust law conflicts.

You can download the press release here: GLADE MICHEL WIRTZ advises GEA on Say on Climate