Janik Klotzsche

Milbank LLP advised Carlyle on a strategic growth investment by TA Associates (“TA”) in SER Group, a leading global intelligent content automation (“ICA”) software vendor in the enterprise content management (“ECM”) market. Carlyle invested in SER in 2018 and has expanded SER’s management team, changed its business model to subscription based, expanded its product range and opened up new markets. These include the USA, the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East. TA, a leading global private equity firm, has agreed to make a strategic growth investment to further support SER’s development in international expansion, investment in AI innovations and expansion of the product range. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. SER is defining ICA, the next generation of ECM that leverages AI to provide intelligent content understanding and process automation. SER’s highly scalable Doxis platform brings ICA capabilities into a single, unified platform that works seamlessly across multiple applications and vendor ecosystems, such as SAP, Salesforce and Microsoft. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, SER has a well-established position in DACH and a fast-growing international business with blue-chip customers around the world. SER is trusted by over five million users worldwide. Carlyle is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $426 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2023, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which they invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,200 people in 28 offices across four continents. The Milbank team that advised Carlyle comprehensively on the transaction was led by partner Sebastian Heim (Corporate/M&A) and included partners Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax), Thomas Ingenhoven (Finance) and Alexander Rinne (Antitrust), special counsel Nils Bremer (Antitrust) as well as associates Markus von Lutterotti, Julian Jaschinski, Janik Klotzsche, Linus Knappe (all Corporate/M&A), Lara Milione (Finance), Arne Hammerich and Jil Windau (both Tax).

Mar 22

1 min

Milbank LLP advised EQT Infrastructure IV fund (“EQT”) on the sale of Melita to Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Founded in 1992, Melita is today a leading digital infrastructure owner and operator in Malta with a fully invested fiber-powered fixed network as well as a nationwide 5G mobile network with its own towers, backhaul and small cell footprint. EQT is a global investment organization with EUR 246 billion in total assets under management (EUR 134 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. The transaction is subject to conditions including regulatory approvals. The Milbank team advising EQT on the transaction was led by partner Markus Muhs (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and included partner Lara Watt, James McClymont, Ajal Notowicz and Andrea Hamilton (all Corporate/M&A, London ) and special counsel David Schwenneker (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Andrew Callaghan (Tax, London), as well as associates Janik Klotzsche, Jana Kasakow (both Corporate/M&A, Munich) and Daniel Carolan (Corporate/M&A, London).

Nov 22

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis has bolstered its European corporate practice with the hire of Sebastian Heim, who joins as partner across its Munich and London offices. Heim, a Milbank London partner, has advised on deals including Carlyle’s €7.7 billion ($8.9 billion) acquisition of BASF’s coating business and General Atlantic’s $5.7 billion public offering of SMG Swiss Marketing Group, at the time the largest European IPO of the year. Heim joined Milbank in 2011 as an associate, according to his LinkedIn. “Sebastian is one of the go-to private equity lawyers in Germany,” said Jon A. Ballis, chairman of Kirkland’s executive committee. Heim’s regularly advises clients on corporate law, M&A, and growth equity matters. “Sebastian is an extraordinary lawyer with a stellar reputation,” said Benjamin Leyendecker, a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Munich office. The move comes just 18 months after Kirkland opened its Frankfurt office in August 2024. The hub cooperates closely with Kirkland's Munich office, which has been described by Leyendecker as “key pillar of our strategy”. Heim is joining the Munich office, which has 17 partners listed on Kirkland’s website. Kirkland saw record lateral hires and partner promotions globally in 2025 alongside seven lateral hires in Germany since opening in Frankfurt. Kirkland’s German partners have also been in demand elsewhere, however, with former restructuring partner Leo Plank moving to Gibson Dunn in February. Milbank has been contacted for comment.

Mar 3

1 min

Milbank LLP advised EQT Infrastructure (EQT) on the acquisition of Constellation Cold Logistics from Arcus Infrastructure Partners. Constellation Cold Logistics is the third largest operator of cold storage facilities in Europe. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals. It is expected to close in October 2024. Constellation Cold Logistics (Constellation) provides temperature-controlled storage infrastructure to a wide range of food producers via a network of 26 storage facilities across seven countries in Western Europe and the Nordics. The company offers critical food preservation services that are essential to the modern food supply chain, helping to feed the world safely while reducing food waste. EQT will support Constellation as it looks to further entrench its market-leading position, execute identified M&A opportunities and deliver major expansion developments within Europe. EQT is a global investment organization with EUR 242 billion in total assets under management (EUR 132 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. The Milbank team that advised EQT on all law aspects of the transaction was led by partner Markus Muhs (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and included partner James McClymont (Corporate/M&A, London), as well as special counsel David Schwenneker (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and associates Janik Klotzsche (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Drew MacDonald, Jamie Duncan, and Sophie Hofford (all Corporate/M&A, London).

Jun 27

1 min

Milbank LLP has advised a consortium of European banks, led by IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG as bookrunner and mandated lead arranger and KfW-coordinator, on a EUR 260 million KfW-backed financing of Green IT applications for United Internet AG. With over 29 million fee-based customer contracts and over 38 million ad-financed free accounts, United Internet AG is a leading European internet specialist. IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, headquartered in Düsseldorf, focuses on high-end German mid-caps. IKB specializes in long-term financing for companies and projects, including public loans. The bank also offers financing solutions that can be used independently of customer balance sheets, including assistance for companies on the capital market. The Milbank team was led by partner Thomas Ingenhoven and included special counsel Thomas Möller and associate Lara Letizia Milione (all Finance) as well as partner Thomas Kleinheisterkamp and associate Christoph Wolf (all Tax).

Mar 3

1 min