Author Archives: c-wettich

Berner Fleck Wettich has again been named “Top Commercial Law Firm 2022” by the news magazine Focus in the areas of corporate law and “Mergers & Acquisitions”. This is the result of a survey carried out by the data company FactField GmbH 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 22 specialist areas. These experts are partners of commercial law firms on the one hand and in-house lawyers on the other. For the 2022 survey, a total of app. 10,700 lawyers from commercial law firms and app. 3,100 lawyers in the legal departments of companies (in-house lawyers) were identified.

In its current issue, WirtschaftsWoche has again named Berner Fleck Wettich as a top law firm for corporate law 2022. At the same time, Dr. Olaf Berner, Dr. Thilo Fleck and Dr. Carsten Wettich have been included in the list of Germany’s most renowned lawyers for corporate law. Dr Olaf Berner has also been included in the list of Germany’s most renowned lawyers for M&A.

For the selection of the best German lawyers in corporate law, the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) asked more than 5,200 lawyers from 288 law firms about their most renowned colleagues in corporate law.

Berner Fleck Wettich has been awarded the highest rating of four stars (Tier 1) for corporate law and M&A by brand eins as one of the best commercial law firms in Germany 2022.

The list is based on a survey among lawyers (colleagues survey) and in-house lawyers (clients survey) for a total of 24 legal fields.

The retail company Otto Group has taken a majority stake in the Swiss provider of digital health services Medgate. Another deal followed on its heels. Immediately after Otto’s entry, Medgate took over BetterDoc, a Cologne-based provider of services in the field of medical quality data analysis. With this move, the retail company is upgrading in the digital health market, where, according to international studies, Germany has a lot of catching up to do. The founders of Medgate and BetterDoc retain a minority stake in Medgate Holding. […]

Advisors to the founders and shareholders of BetterDoc
Berner Fleck Wettich (Düsseldorf): Dr. Thilo Fleck (lead); Associates: Christina Peters, Denis Schütz (all Corporate)
ADKL Abels Decker Kuhfuß & Partner (Düsseldorf): Thomas Jorde, Marc Sarburg (both tax consultancy) – known from the market

To read the full announcement, please click here (in German).

The international retail and services group Otto Group has acquired a majority stake in the Swiss Medgate Holding, a provider of digital health services, including telemedical advice. At the same time, Medgate Holding is taking over BetterDoc GmbH, a data analysis service active in the DACH region that helps patients to identify the doctors and clinics best suited to their condition. The founders of Medgate and BetterDoc will remain on board and will hold a minority stake in Medgate Holding in the future. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose the economic terms of the transaction. […]

Berner Fleck Wettich provided comprehensive legal advice to the founders and all other shareholders of BetterDoc on the transaction. .

Click here for the full article (in German).

As in previous years, the seminar on the tax and foundation law support of family foundations in practice, organised by the FORUM together with the law firms Peters, Schöneberger & Partner from Munich and Berner Fleck Wettich from Düsseldorf, will take place hybrid (virtual and physical in Frankfurt am Main) on 16 May 2022. Dr. Thilo Fleck lectures on foundation law topics, including the legal position of beneficiaries and foundation bodies (employment, remuneration, liability) as well as on the maintenance of the articles of association, structural change and reform of foundation law. The effects of the corona crisis on family foundations are also examined.

If you are interested in the event, please contact us for a discount on the participation fee for clients of Berner Fleck Wettich.

You can find more information (in German) about the event and the possibilities of registration here.

Prof. Dr. Sabine Otte-Gräbener (Berner Fleck Wettich) deals in her contribution to the commemorative publication for Volker Triebel with the legal issues and consequences in practice of the temporary exception provided for in section 2 COVMG pursuant to which shareholders can adopt resolutions by circular resolution without the consent of all shareholders notwithstanding section 48 (2) German Private Limited Companies Act (GmbHG). Besides, she presents concrete proposals for a (permanent) reform of section 48 (2) GmbHG.

France’s Alliance Marine Group has acquired 12seemeilen.de, a major B2C boating accessories specialist based in Cologne and serving the German market. The acquisition was made on behalf of Intermer, a subsidiary of the French Alliance Marine Group, and its Accastillage Diffusion chain of more than 130 national stores in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Alliance Marine Group, a portfolio company of a private equity fund managed by Weinberg Capital Partners, specializes in the distribution of equipment and spare parts for repair and maintenance in the yachting and merchant marine industries. With 350 employees and a portfolio of more than 500 brands (mechanical parts and fittings), Alliance Marine is the undisputed leader in this sector in France, with sales of nearly €100 million.

The acquisition of 12seemeilen.de gives the Accastillage Diffusion group an important foothold in the German market.

Berner Fleck Wettich comprehensively advised the founders of 12seemeilen.de on the transaction.

Click here for the full article (in German).

EMMA Capital, EMH and minority shareholders of the Kiveda Group Holding, the parent company of “küchenquelle”, have formed the new “Home Furniture Group” (HFG). The new formed group will target to further disrupt the furniture market by expanding its successful tech enabled direct sales approach from kitchens into adjacent areas of home furniture. EMMA Capital and the existing shareholders see the used mixed reality technology, provided by Island Labs, Berlin as pivotal for implementing the accelerated growth strategy and secure the technology potential for HFG in the long term. With the new strategic Partner, EMMA Capital, on board, HFG is strengthened and well prepared to grow within the European market with its unique sales approach. […]

Berner Fleck Wettich advises EMMA Capital on the transaction.

Click here for the full article (in German).