Dr. Jan Häller LL.M.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised Swiss Life Asset Managers (Swiss Life AM) and Gelsenwasser AG (Gelsenwasser) on the acquisition of Infrareal GmbH (Infrareal), the owner and operator of two growing life science industrial parks in Germany. Swiss Life Asset Managers and Gelsenwasser will support Infrareal’s investment program over the next 10 years and spearhead management’s efforts in growing best-in-class site operations as well as technical and logistics services for blue-chip life science companies. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Infrareal is the owner and operator of two prime life science-focused industrial parks in Marburg and Jena, Germany. Infrareal helps its clients focus on their core manufacturing and R&D competencies, providing them with all-encompassing infrastructure support which includes buildings, utilities, technical services, logistics and IT solutions. With its attractive loca-tions and high-quality asset base, Infrareal is well-positioned to capture the growth in out-sourced infrastructure in the life science industry. Swiss Life AM offers its asset management expertise to third-party clients in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK. As at 31. December 2020, assets managed by Swiss Life AM on behalf of third-party clients amounted to €85 billion. The team has advised 30 infrastructure investments in Europe and North America across the renewables, energy, regulated utilities, transportation, and communication sectors. Gelsenwasser is a major German utility company with a main focus on infrastructure, service and supply, from water and wastewater to energy (gas, electricity, wind, PV, heat) and to the digital area. The cross-border team was co-led by London finance partner Conrad Andersen, London corporate partner John Guccione and Düsseldorf corporate partner Tobias Larisch with support from Düsseldorf corporate associates Katharina Intfeld, Alexander Belk, Jaschar Mirkhani, Felix Gasten, and Ivo Wanwitz. Advice was also provided on finance matters by Frankfurt associate Martina Eisgruber, Hong Kong associates Lynsey Edgar and Tirmzi Zarmina; on regulatory matters by Frankfurt counsel Joachim Grittmann and associate Alexander Wilhelm, on antitrust matters by Düsseldorf partner Jan Höft, Hamburg counsel Jana Dammann de Chapto and Düsseldorf associate Leonie Spangenberger, on tax matters by Hamburg partner Tobias Klass and associate Verena Seevers, on real estate matters by Frankfurt partner Otto von Gruben, on corporate/IP matters by Frankfurt partner Susan Kempe-Müller and associate Pia Sösemann, on employment matters by Munich partner Tobias Leder, and on data privacy matters by Frankfurt associates Wolf-Tassilo Böhm and Isabelle Brams.~~

Jul 28

2 min

Embracer Group AB ("Embracer"), the parent company of businesses developing and publishing PC, console and mobile games for the global games market, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Cyprus-based Easybrain Group Limited ("Easybrain"), a leading mobile game developer with a core focus on puzzle and logic games. Easybrain will become Embracer’s eighth operative group as a wholly owned subsidiary and continue to be led by its existing management. Latham & Watkins LLP represents Easybrain Group Limited in the transaction with a cross border corporate deal team led by Bay Area partner Greg Roussel and London partner Edward Barnett, with associates Jennifer Cadet and William Temple-Smith. Advice was also provided on technology transaction matters by London partner Deborah Kirk, with associates Liz Longster and Victoria Wan; on benefits and compensation matters by London partner Catherine Drinnan; on tax matters by London partner Karl Mah, with associate Aoife McCabe; and on antitrust matters by Düsseldorf partner Jan Höft, Brussels partner David Little and San Diego partner Hanno Kaiser, with associates Jamie Mansour, Kristen Previto and Leonie Spangenberger.~~

Feb 3

1 min

Latham & Watkins LLP is advising Swiss Life Asset Managers (Swiss Life AM) and Vauban Infrastructure Partners on the public offer to acquire Aves One AG (Aves One), one of the leading holders of rail assets in Europe. Rhine Rail Investment AG, the special purpose vehicle set up by Swiss Life AM and Vauban Infrastructure Partners, will make a cash offer of €12.80 per share to the shareholders of Aves One. The offer price represents a premium of approximately 38.6 percent over the volume-weighted average share price of the last three months prior to the publication of the decision to make an offer. A group of shareholders owning more than 85 percent of the company have irrevocably committed to tender their shares. Aves One and Rhine Rail Investment AG have signed an investment agreement in relation to the takeover offer. The Management Board and the Supervisory Board of Aves One have agreed, subject to the review of the published offer document, to support the offer. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, Aves One is one of the largest owners of railcars and swap bodies in Europe. The Company is listed on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Swiss Life AM has more than 160 years of experience in managing capital on behalf of the Swiss Life Group and its clients. The investment philosophy of Swiss Life AM focuses on principles of long-term strategic approach, capital preservation, generation of consistent and sustainable returns as well as a responsible approach to risks. Swiss Life AM offers its asset management expertise to third-party clients in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK. As at 31 December 2020, assets managed by Swiss Life on behalf of third-party clients amounted to €85 billion. Together with the investment mandates for the Swiss Life Group, total assets under management by Swiss Life AM stood at €249 billion, of which CHF 7.3 billion is managed by the Infrastructure Equity Business area. Swiss Life AM has a dedicated infrastructure team of more than 40 investment professionals, focusing on investments in global infrastructure assets including renewables and a proven track record in creating value for its clients. Swiss Life AM employs more than 2300 people in Europe. Swiss Life Asset Managers employs more than 2300 people in Europe. Vauban Infrastructure Partners is a leading Infrastructure Asset Manager focused on the European core infrastructure investments. Vauban Infrastructure Partners has raised around €6 billion across five funds in Core infrastructure and has invested in over 50 assets in mobility, utilities, social & digital infrastructure across different geographies. The cross-border team was co-led by Düsseldorf corporate partner Tobias Larisch, London corporate partner John Guccione, and London finance partner Conrad Andersen, with support from Düsseldorf corporate counsel Sebastian Goslar and associates Steffen Augschill, Katharina Intfeld, Jaschar Mirkhani, Felix Gasten, and Ivo Wanwitz. Advice was also provided on finance matters by Frankfurt associate Martina Eisgruber and London associate Amanda Fortuna; on antitrust matters by Düsseldorf partner Jan Höft, Hamburg counsel Jana Dammann de Chapto and Düsseldorf associate Leonie Spangenberger; on corporate/IP matters by Frankfurt partner Susan Kempe-Müller and associate Pia Sösemann; on employment matters by Munich partner Tobias Leder; on compliance matters by Hamburg associate Stefan Bartz and Düsseldorf associate Julia-Bianka Schenkel; on data privacy matters by Frankfurt associates Wolf-Tassilo Böhm; and on regulatory matters by counsel Joachim Grittmann and associate Alexander Wilhelm.~~

Aug 12

2 min

Milbank LLP continues its strategic growth path in Germany and is strengthening its Corporate and M&A practice with the addition of Dr. Jan Häller.~~Dr. Jan Häller advises corporations, financial investors, and family-owned businesses on national and cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures, as well as on all aspects of corporate law. He is joining from Hengeler Mueller where he advised on numerous complex transactions – including the sale of Viessmann’s heat pump business to Carrier, Deutsche Bahn’s sale of DB Schenker to Danish logistics group DSV, and KKR’s investment in aerospace company OHB via a public takeover offer.~~“Jan is not only an excellent lawyer; with his strong business acumen and solution-oriented approach, he’s also a perfect fit for our firm’s philosophy,” says Dr. Norbert Rieger, Chairman of Milbank’s Global Corporate Practice. “He will play a key role in further developing our advisory practice and strengthening our market leading position.”~~“With Jan, we are gaining an outstanding corporate/M&A lawyer who will advise our clients with clear strategic insight and strong personal commitment,” says Dr. Michael Bernhardt, partner and head of the Corporate Practice in Milbank’s Frankfurt office. “We are very pleased to welcome him to Milbank.”~~Dr. Jan Häller studied law at the University of Heidelberg and earned an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge. He is also the author of numerous publications on corporate law matters.~~With the appointments of Dr. Leopold Riedl (2022), Dr. Pascal Härdtner (2024) and the addition of Dr. Jan Häller, Milbank continues the consistent expansion of its German corporate/M&A practice. At the same time, over the past few years, the firm has also significantly strengthened its global practice in the areas of Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity, particularly through the addition of several partners in New York, London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Sep 1

1 min

Milbank LLP is pleased to announce that Maurice Conway has joined the firm’s Singapore office as a partner in the Global Corporate/M&A Group.~~“We are thrilled to welcome Maurice to Milbank,” said Milbank Chairman Scott A. Edelman. “Maurice is highly regarded in the Asia private equity market, and his deep transactional experience and strong client relationships across the region will be tremendous assets as we continue to expand our global private equity and M&A capabilities.”~~Mr. Conway has extensive experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity, advising global private equity firms, corporates and financial sponsors on complex transactions across Asia, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. His practice spans a wide range of industries, including healthcare, technology, consumer goods and infrastructure.~~“As Singapore continues to solidify its position as a leading hub for private equity, our strategic growth across Asia reflects the growing demand for sophisticated investment capabilities in the region,” said David Zemans, Managing Partner of Milbank’s Singapore office and Asia Practice. “With Maurice’s arrival and the previous additions of Andrew Whan and Neeraj Budhwani, we’re deepening our bench to support clients on complex, cross-border transactions and to capitalize on the momentum in Asia’s evolving private equity landscape.”~~“Maurice’s arrival underscores our commitment to expanding our global private equity capabilities and will unlock opportunities across our Asian platform and our global team,” commented Norbert Rieger, Global Chairman of Milbank’s Corporate/M&A Group. “His extensive experience in the Asia market and his strong relationships with leading private equity sponsors and corporates make him a valuable addition to our team."~~Milbank has significantly expanded its global corporate, M&A and private equity capabilities over the past few years, including the recent additions of partners Jan Häller in Frankfurt; Evan Roberts in Los Angeles; Derek Winokur, Rick Presutti, Antonio Diaz-Albertini, Paul Bennett and Edward Lemanowicz in New York; a team of 30 attorneys in London including partners Jordan Simpson, James McClymont and Andrew Nuthall; partners Barbara Mayer-Trautmann and Markus Muhs in Germany; and partners Andrew Whan, Neeraj Budhwani, Davide Mencacci and John Bona in Hong Kong.~~“Milbank has a stellar reputation for advising on some of the most sophisticated transactions in the market,” said Mr. Conway. “I’m excited to join a team that shares my commitment to excellence and to continue supporting clients on their most strategic transactions across Asia.”~~Mr. Conway joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office. He holds a Bachelor of Business & Law from University College Dublin and completed his LPC at the College of Law.

Sep 15

2 min