Binder Groesswang and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Frankfurt) have advised Ardian (formerly AXA Private Equity) on the acquisition of Gantner Holding GmbH, headquartered in Schruns, Austria, from the Identec Group.
Gantner is a leading international manufacturer of contactless RFID and NFC access control and staff time recording systems facilitating automatic identification. The company’s solutions can be found in leisure facilities such as fitness clubs, water parks, public pools and spas, as well as in commercial and public buildings. Gantner provides integrated overall solutions for membership and visitor management and cashless payments, as well as for high security access control (doors, cabinets and lockers) and staff time recording systems, as well as developing and producing both the hardware and the software required to run the systems. The company claims to be the market leader in the niche segment for fitness clubs in Europe, counting well-known brands such as FitnessFirst, Holmes Place, McFit, and Elements among its clients. It is also one of the three biggest companies in the public pools and spas segment. Gantner has subsidiaries in Germany, the UK, Dubai, and Australia and operates in more than 60 countries. Around a quarter of its global workforce of more than 200 is employed in R&D.
According to a Binder Groesswang press release, as part of the transaction, the existing Gantner management team will invest in the company. “With the backing of Ardian,” Binder Groesswang reports, “management is planning to further strengthen Gantner’s leading position as a highly innovative supplier of 2/2 NFC systems and to boost growth by tapping into new markets as well as seeking bolt-on acquisitions.”
Dirk Wittneben, Head of Ardian Expansion in Germany, said: “The success of Gantner is down to its innovative products, an experienced team with excellent know-how, and long-term customer relationships. We look forward to working alongside management to build on the existing product portfolio and to provide support for the company’s international growth. Additionally, we will offer Gantner support through our international network as it moves to enter new markets.”
Binder Grösswang advised on the Due Diligence, SPA and management participations. The firm’s team was led by Partner Thomas Schirmer, and included Partners Bernd Schneiderbauer, Johannes Barbist, Stefan Tiefenthaler, Christine Dietz, and Angelika Pallwein-Prettner, Senior Associates Hermann Schneeweiss, Markus Pinggera, and Robert Wippel, and Associates Cordelia Klauhs, Regina Kroll, Markus Stelzl, and Sabine Apfl.
The Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Frankfurt team serving as International Lead Counsel of purchaser Ardian was led by Partner Mario Schmidt, and included Partners Matthew Dean, Patrick Meiisel, Jan Wilms, Susanne Zuehlke, and Maximilian Schwab.
Binder Groesswang did not reply to our inquiries about counsel for the seller.
Editor’s note: After this note was published, Binder Groesswang directed CEE Legal Matters to a source identifying Counsel for Identec as Christian Tassul from Frieders Tassul & Partner, although Tassul did not reply to a request for confirmation by CEE Legal Matters. Based on that same source, CEE Legal Matters was able to confirm that NordLB had been advised by a Clifford Chance team led by Munich-based Partner Thomas Weitkamp, supported by Frankfurt-based Partners Kerstin Kopp and Thorsten Sauerhering, Munich-based Counsel Philipp Kropatschek, Senior Associate Matthias Toke, and Associate Christian Cranmore.
Subsequently, Herbst Kinsky announced on its website that its team advising Gantner Management was led by Partner Christoph Wildmoser, supported by Florian Steinhart, David Pachernegg, and Carl Walderdorff.