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Archiv: 2019

IFLR1000 Ranking Germany 2020Berner Fleck Wettich again listed in IFLR1000’s 2020 ranking for Corporate and M&A

As in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, the corporate law boutique Berner Fleck Wettich has been distinguished by the international law directory IFLR1000 – “The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms” for its Corporate and M&A practice and has been ranked in its annual ranking for M&A – Germany 2020.

In the review, IFLR 1000 states:

Berner Fleck Wettich is a corporate boutique active in M&A. During the research period the firm mainly advised buyers in acquisitions, including a minority shareholder squeeze-out and share swap transaction.

Recent deal data highlights  

•E.ON takeover of Innogy

Client feedback 

“Excellent support for SME customers: entrepreneurial with broad and deep advice and perfect technical skills.” – M&A

“Excellent. Very knowledgeable with strong communication and negotiation skills.” – M&A

“Very experienced, very reliable and very short response times – even on weekends. No weaknesses – there is nothing to improve!” – M&A

“Extraordinarily engaged, the wishes of the customer are considered and facts are explained very well. Very high reaction speed and very solution-oriented. From my point of view nothing could be improved.” – M&A

“Our satisfaction is really linked to the person we worked with (Christian Nienkemper). Don’t know anything else of the firm.” – Project development

“We are very happy with the very professional, accurate and fast work of Berner Fleck Wettich.” – Project development

Click here for the full review.

JUVE handbook German Commercial Law Firms (GCLF) 2019/2020Berner Fleck Wettich again included in national ranking for corporate/M&A

The boutique law firm Berner Fleck Wettich, which specialises in corporate law | Corporate, is once again listed by JUVE Verlag für juristische Information in the JUVE handbook German Commercial Law Firms (GCLF) 2019/2020 both in the national ranking for corporate law as well as in the ranking for the region Westen/Düsseldorf. The JUVE Handbuch is regarded as the most renowned handbook for the evaluation of commercial law firms in the German legal market.

Assessment in extracts: The mandates of the Düsseldorf corporate boutique are continuously gaining in complexity and size. This makes the team more and more a competitor and alternative for large local law firms. Clients such as Innogy always rely on BFW, e.g. in addition to the takeover by E.on/RWE, also in the sale of the Czech Gas Network division. BFW increasingly wins new clients through tenders, most recently a German bakery producer whom the team advised on the planned sale of a subsidiary. In corporate law, Partner Wettich is particularly present in the market with its advice to supervisory boards and board members on D&O and directors’ liability.

Often recommended: Dr. Thilo Fleck (“very well-founded advice”, competitor), Dr. Olaf Berner (“very good corporate lawyer”, competitor), Dr. Carsten Wettich (“high quality in both corporate and corporate litigation”, “extremely competent, excellent reaction time”, competitor), Christian Nienkemper (“smooth and fair cooperation, excellent legal advice”, competitor; all corporate/M&A)

For the complete evaluation (in German) please click here.

RWS, 22/10/2019Berner Fleck Wettich advises founder in the sale of Futavis to DEUTZ

DEUTZ AG has acquired Futavis GmbH, a development service provider of battery management hardware and software. With the acquisition of Futavis GmbH, DEUTZ AG is supplementing its electrification strategy with the important core component battery. The founder of Futavis, Dr Jens Bockstette, will remain responsible for the operative business as managing director. […]

Berner Fleck Wettich advised the founder and managing director of Futavis GmbH on the transaction.

Click here for the full article (in German).

JUVE, 11/10/2019CMS client Armira buys in at Toniebox – BFW advises founders and Boxine

The manufacturer of the Toniebox children’s toy has sold shares in the company to other investors. Boxine, a company based in Düsseldorf, announced that the intention was to expand internationalization. As a shareholder, the start-up has brought on board the Munich industrial holding Armira, among others. […]

Advisors founders and Boxine GmbH:
Berner Fleck Wettich (Dusseldorf): Dr. Thilo Fleck (leadership, Dr. Christian Nienkemper, Dr. Olaf Berner (all Corporate)
Arnold Ruess (Dusseldorf): Dr. Bernhard Arnold, Prof. Dr. Peter Ruess (both IP)
ADKL Abels Decker Kuhfuß & Partner (Dusseldorf): Thomas Jorde, Marc Sarburg (Taxes)

Advisor to former shareholders:
Hengeler Mueller (Dusseldorf): Thomas Meurer, Dr. Bernd Wirbel (both Corporate Law/M&A), Dr. Matthias Berberich (Berlin; Media Law); Associate: Dr. Maximilian Schauf (M&A/Corporate Law) […]

Backgrounds:

Arnold Ruess joined the company through personal contacts and has advised Boxine on intellectual property law since its foundation. Boxine mandated Berner Fleck Wettich on corporate law issues following Arnold Ruess’ recommendation.

For the complete report (in German) click here.

FOCUS Top Business Law Firm 2019Focus regognizes Berner Fleck Wettich as Top Business Law Firm in Germany for corporate law and also for M&A for the first time

Berner Fleck Wettich has again been named “Top Commercial Law Firm 2019” by the news magazine Focus in the area of corporate law and also in the area of “Mergers & Acquisitions”. This is the result of a survey carried out by the data company Statista for the news magazine Focus. Berner Fleck Wettich has often been recommended by colleagues and clients.

The Focus top list of commercial law firms is based on the recommendations of experts in a total of 21 specialist areas. These experts are partners of commercial law firms on the one hand and in-house lawyers on the other. For the 2019 survey, a total of 10,781 lawyers from commercial law firms and 3,516 lawyers in the legal departments of companies (in-house lawyers) were identified.

WirtschaftsWoche TOP Law Firm 2019Berner Fleck Wettich awarded as TOP Law Firm for M&A 2019 ausgezeichnet

In the current issue of WirtschaftsWoche, Berner Fleck Wettich has been named top law firm for M&A 2019. At the same time, Carsten Wettich has been included in the list of the best M&A lawyers in Germany.

To select the best German M&A lawyers, the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) interviewed more than 4,000 lawyers in 245 law firms about their most renowned colleagues. From this list, a jury of experts selected the 55 top law firms in Germany and the 86 best corporate lawyers.

JUVE Rechtsmarkt Oktober 2019Pool binding as a move – BFW advises Metro’s Supervisory Board

Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky’s takeover bid for Metro has failed […]

Advisors of Metro’s Supervisory Board
Berner Fleck Wettich (Duesseldorf): Dr. Carsten Wettich, Dr. Olaf Berner (both Corporat/M&A)

Background:

The successful defence against the takeover bid is attributable to several parties – whereby the Hengeler tandem Schapmann and Austmann, which Metro has been advising for a long time, probably made a major contribution. It is reported that the joint statement was prepared in close consultation with the legal department headed by General Counsel and the corporate boutique Berner Fleck Wettich, which was mandated by the Supervisory Board after a pitch.

Read the complete press release (in German) here.

LTO, 06/09/2019Armira joins Boxine

Armira acquires a stake in Toniebox manufacturer Boxine. The Boxine founders remain managing partners. Berner Fleck Wettich, Hengeler Mueller and Arnold Ruess are legal advisors to Boxine and its shareholders respectively. CMS advises Armira.

Boxine is based in Düsseldorf and was founded in 2013. The company distributes the Toniebox, an audio system for children, and the associated audio figures, the so-called Tonies, on which a total of almost 200 radio plays, audio books and music titles are stored. Last autumn, Armira entered the UK market and is set to expand further with the entry of Armira.

In addition to the Munich industrial holding company, other investors, including the Hexal founding family Strüngmann through their Family Office Athos Service, have invested in Boxine.

Berner Fleck Wettich advised the founders and Boxine, with Dr. Thilo Fleck in charge.

Read the complete press release (in German) here.

Legal Tribune Online, 28/08/2019Innogy sells VSEH stake in RWE

Innogy has sold its 49 percent stake in the Slovakian holding company VSEH to RWE. Hengeler Mueller, Berner Fleck Wettich and Freshfields provide legal advice.

VSEH is a holding company whose subsidiaries are active in the field of electricity supply and distribution as well as sales in Slovakia. Innogy will initially sell the stake to RWE and RWE intends to transfer the shares to Eon in the coming year. The transaction is part of Eon’s planned acquisition of Innogy’s network and distribution business.

Hengeler Mueller advised Innogy on the transaction, the Düsseldorf-based corporate boutique Berner Fleck Wettich was legal advisor to the Innogy Management Board. RWE has been advised on the acquisition of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The law firms are also advising on the planned split of Innogy into RWE and Eon.

For the complete report (in German) click here.

BFW as sponsor of the Founders Golf Club on 30.08.2019 in BerlinGolf event for golfing and non-golfing founders of the digital industry

The Founders Golf Cup is far more than just a classic tournament, it is a golf event for golfing and non-golfing founders of the digital industry. It is about enabling exciting encounters between entrepreneurs and founders at eye level, even beyond the sport of golf. The tournament is an invite-only event by founders for founders. The event will take place on 30.8.19 in the GC Pankow.

Berner Fleck Wettich is sponsor of the Founders Golf Cup. Interested founders are welcome to contact us for participation in the Golf Cup.

More information: https://www.foundersgolfcup.com/