Latham & Watkins LLP has advised European private equity firm Trilantic Europe on the ac-quisition of a significant stake in Smile Eyes Group as well as on the financing of the transac-tion. The investment is structured as a partnership between Trilantic Europe, the two founders of Smile Eyes Dres. Wiltfang and Bechmann and the management team, with the vision to implement a buy-and-build strategy in the German ophthalmology market. The financial de-tails of this transaction were not disclosed. Smile Eyes is a leading player in the German ophthalmology market with headquarters in Munich. The company stands for eye laser and lens surgery at the highest medical level and has a comprehensive service offering in the field of ophthalmology in various metropolitan regions in Germany. Trilantic Europe is a pan-European private equity firm focusing on mid-market transactions in Europe. Trilantic Europe’s sectors of focus are healthcare, consumer & leisure, industrials, TMT, and business services. The Latham M&A team was led by Hamburg private equity partner Nils Röver. Advice on private equity matters was also provided by Frankfurt private equity partner Susanne Decker with Hamburg private equity associates Malte Ingwersen, Jacob Ahme, Philipp Thomssen, Maximilian Berenbrok, Lorenz Koffka, Jana Maué. On corporate/healthcare matters by Hamburg partner Christoph Engeler; on corporate/IP matters by Frankfurt partner Susan Kempe-Müller and associate Pia Sophie Sösemann; on antitrust matters by Hamburg coun-sel Jana Dammann de Chapto and Frankfurt associate Judith Jacop; on tax matters by part-ner Stefan Süß and Hamburg associate Verena Seevers; on employment matters by Munich partner Tobias Leder with associate Kristina Steckermeier and on data privacy matters by Frankfurt associates Wolf-Tassilo Böhm and Valentino Halim. Advice on finance matters was provided by Munich partner Thomas Weitkamp and associate Philipp Guggeis with Munich paralegal Anne Kurschewitz and Frankfurt paralegal Christoph Rapp.~~