Dr. Steffen Oppenländer

Fahrenheit AcquiCo GmbH (currently named sotus 861. GmbH; the "Bidder"), a holding company controlled by the EQT X fund ("EQT Private Equity"), supported by co-investors Mubadala Investment Company and the Sixth Cinven Fund, has announced the decision to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for all outstanding shares of va-Q-tec AG ("va-Q-tec"). va-Q-tec is a premium provider of thermal energy efficiency and temperature-controlled supply chain solutions and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The takeover offer is based on a Business Combination Agreement signed by the Bidder and va-Q-tec today. EQT Private Equity has partnered with the va-Q-tec founding families of Dr. Joachim Kuhn (founder and CEO) and Dr. Roland Caps (founder and former Head of Research and Development), who together hold approximately 26% in the Company’s current share capital and have agreed under a Partnership Agreement to participate in the transaction and to re-invest the majority of their current participation. Completion of the takeover offer will be subject to a minimum acceptance threshold of 62.5% of va-Q-tec's current share capital (including shares held by the Founding Families) and certain further customary conditions, including merger control clearance. The takeover offer is expected to close in Q2 2023. Milbank is advising the Bidder comprehensively on the transaction. The Milbank team is led by partners Steffen Oppenländer and Christoph Rothenfusser (both Corporate/M&A, joint lead) and includes partners Philipp Klöckner (Equity Capital Markets), Alexander Rinne (Regulatory) and Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax), special counsel Sebastian Reiner-Pechtl (Corporate/M&A) and Jennifer Seipelt (Finance) as well as associates Markus von Lutterotti, Manuel Bogenreuther, Julian Jaschinski, Lea-Marie Weischede, Rabea Regh (all Corporate/M&A), Mira Zimmermann (Equity Capital Markets), as well as Alexander Zyrewitz and Stefanie Gschoßmann (both Regulatory).

Dec 14

1 min

The 2025 edition of the prestigious Germany’s Best Lawyers rankings, issued jointly by the Handelsblatt and US publisher Best Lawyers, features 37 attorneys from Milbank LLP. The lawyers selected from the firm’s Munich and Frankfurt offices are recognized for their strong market presence, professional excellence and outstanding reputation.~~Two Awards as "Lawyers of the Year 2025" Barbara Mayer-Trautmann (Finance) Norbert Rieger (Corporate/M&A)~~21 Attorneys Recognized in Main Category – "Best Lawyers 2025" In the main category, "Best Lawyers" the following 21 Milbank attorneys are listed: Norbert Rieger, Sebastian Heim, Steffen Oppenländer, Christoph Rothenfusser, Leopold J. Riedl, Markus Muhs, Martin Erhardt, Ulrike Friese-Dormann, Michael Bernhardt, Andrea Eggenstein, Michael Pujol (all Corporate /M&A); Barbara Mayer-Trautmann, Thomas Ingenhoven (both Finance); Marlene Ruf, Mathias Eisen (both Financial Restructuring); Rolf Füger, Matthias Schell, Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (all Tax); Alexander Rinne (Antitrust & Competition) und Philipp Klöckner, Nico Feuerstein (both Corporate Finance and Securities).~~16 Attorneys Named in "Ones to Watch" Category In addition, 16 Milbank attorneys are recognized as "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch". This category highlights emerging legal talents who demonstrate exceptional potential. Notably, seven of the Milbank lawyers are included in the list for the first time this year.~~The following attorneys are named among the "Ones to Watch": Pascal Härdtner, Andreas Rief*, Markus von Lutterotti, Sandra Feil, Sarah-Maria Resch, Sebastian Reiner-Pechtl, Steffen Post*, Steven Buschle*, Svenja Tauchmann* (all Corporate/ M&A); Thomas Möller, Alexander Lang, Gerrit Merkel, Anna Merkl* (all Finance), Moritz Lichtenegger*, Martin Juhasz* (both Antitrust & Competition) and Arne Hammerich (Tax). (*recognized for the first time)~~About the Rankings~~Best Lawyers, one of the most respected international legal directory publishers, compiles the German edition of its rankings exclusively for the Handelsblatt each year. The list is based on an extensive peer-to-peer survey in which business lawyers are invited to recommend colleagues whose work they particularly value. The German edition is published annually in exclusive cooperation with the Handelsblatt.

Jun 12

1 min

Milbank LLP advised EQT IX on the acquisition of thinkproject from TA Associates and thinkproject’s founder Thomas Bachmaier. TA Associates, Thomas Bachmaier and the management team will re-invest significantly into thinkproject while EQT IX will hold the majority ownership. thinkproject’s management team, led by CEO Gareth Burton and CFO Ralf Gruesshaber, will continue to lead thinkproject and build on its strong track record of growth and innovation. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Munich, thinkproject serves more than 250.000 users in over 60 countries. Its cloud-delivered, integrated digital solutions help customers be more efficient, cost-effective and simplify their digital transformation across the construction lifecycle. The company employs around 450 people and its software is used by 2.750 customers across international private and public asset owners, project developers, and general contractors. thinkproject helps improve its customers’ delivery times, reduce waste and energy consumption, while improving sustainability in one of the key carbon emitting industries globally. Its software product suite covers the full construction lifecycle and is driving digitization in one of the largest but least digitally penetrated industries. A Milbank team, which advised EQT IX on the transaction, was led by Steffen Oppenländer (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and included Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax, Munich); Alexander Rinne (Antitrust, Munich); Fritz Schuchmann, Pascal Härdtner, Johannes Wohlmuth (all Corporate/M&A, Munich); Odilo Wallner (Finance, Frankfurt); Arne Hammerich (Tax, Munich) and Susanne Schricker (Antitrust, Munich).

Nov 17

1 min

Milbank LLP advised EQT Future, EQT’s impact-driven investment strategy, on its joint investment with Kühne Holding in Flix SE. EQT Future and Kühne Holding will jointly acquire a stake of approximately 35% in Flix SE through a combined primary and secondary investment. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Flix offers long-distance bus and train travel solutions in more than 40 countries across four continents. Flix, launched in 2013, swiftly established market-leading positions for long-distance bus travel in Europe, North America and Turkey and is rapidly expanding into South America and India. The Milbank team was led by partners Steffen Oppenländer and Pascal Härdtner (both Corporate/M&A, Munich) and included partners Alexander Rinne (Regulatory, Munich), and Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax, Munich), of counsel Jane L. Hanson (Litigation, New York), special counsel Daniel Illhardt (Corporate/M&A, Munich) as well as associates Maximilian Müller, Maximilian Hirschfeld (both Corporate/M&A, Munich), Jan Maas (Regulatory, Munich), and Bradley Hershon (Litigation, New York). A separate Milbank team, led by partner Sebastian Heim (Corporate/M&A, Munich), advised existing shareholder General Atlantic in connection with its investment in Flix SE and the transaction. The team included partners Matthias Schell (Tax, Munich) and Philipp Klöckner (Capital Markets, Frankfurt), special counsel Sebastian Reiner-Pechtl (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and Nils Bremer (Regulatory, Munich), as well as associates Tim Prakash and Linus Knappe (both Corporate/M&A, Munich). Milbank had previously advised General Atlantic on its first investment in the company as well as consecutive financing rounds.

Jul 8

1 min

Milbank LLP is pleased to announce that Dr. Moritz Lichtenegger has been promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2025, further growing the firm’s presence in Germany and strengthening its antitrust practice.~~Moritz Lichtenegger specializes in German and European competition law. He studied law at the Ruprecht-Karls-University in Heidelberg, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. He also holds a doctorate from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.~~“We are delighted to welcome Moritz to the partnership,” said Alexander Rinne, head of Milbank’s European antitrust & competition law practice. “Moritz’s exceptional expertise in German and European competition law and his strategic approach to solving highly complex legal matters make him a cornerstone of our competition law practice.”~~Steffen Oppenländer, Managing Partner of the Munich office, added: “Moritz has established an excellent reputation in high-stakes merger control cases, cartel proceedings and damages actions as well as in compliance and distribution antitrust law matters. With Moritz joining our partnership, we strengthen both our German and European antitrust practice and our transactional practice. His appointment reflects our commitment to nurturing and advancing talent within our firm. We warmly congratulate Moritz and look forward to continuing our work together.”~~With Moritz Lichtenegger’s appointment, the number of Milbank partners in Germany rises to 20. Globally, the firm elevated 17 attorneys to partner with effect as of January 1, 2025.

Jan 15

1 min