Baker McKenzie advised FUNKE Digital on the acquisition of a majority stake in the digital agency Baseplus DIGITAL MEDIA GmbH, strengthening its "FUNKE Digital Services" business cluster. Founder Branimir Witt will remain with Baseplus DIGITAL MEDIA GmbH as a shareholder and consultant.
FUNKE will take over all 33 employees and create additional positions in the coming months. Marvin Schlusen, who has been with the company since 2013, will also remain as managing director.
Baker McKenzie advised FUNKE Digital on all legal issues related to the transaction.
"With the acquisition, our client in the digital business cluster "FUNKE Digital Services" can create the framework for an even better and more targeted customer service and thus also underpin its strong positioning in the market," commented Dr. Silke Gantzckow, the lead partner in the transaction.
FUNKE Digital is a subsidiary of FUNKE Mediengruppe based in Essen, Germany, which uses state-of-the-art technologies, agile working methods and interdisciplinary teams to modernize existing products and expand new business areas. In the "FUNKE Digital Services" business segment, FUNKE Digital pursues a consistent buy & build approach. With the acquisition of a majority stake in the Viersen-based digital agency Baseplus DIGITAL MEDIA GmbH, "FUNKE Digital Services" is thus on its way to becoming one of the leading providers of regional and industry-specific online marketing in Germany.
The renowned Viersen digital agency Baseplus DIGITAL MEDIA GmbH was founded in 2005 by Branimir Witt and has since convincingly advanced the digitalization of various marketing processes. Thus baseplus® can look back on strong customer and sales growth in recent years and already programs a large number of websites, especially in the highly competitive market of plastic and aesthetic surgery - always while ensuring outstanding customer satisfaction. The KLINIKA® brand, which was created specifically for this purpose, is also part of the acquisition and forms an additional and stable pillar for the future.
Most recently, Baker McKenzie advised Knorr-Bremse AG on the sale of its stake in Haldex AB to SAF-Holland SE, Siemens on the sale of its Commercial Vehicles business to Meritor, Andera Partners, Evotec and Fund+ on a EUR 60 million Series B financing of Tubulis GmbH, Allecra Therapeutics on an exclusive license and supply agreement with ADVANZ PHARMA, MODAG on a strategic collaboration with Teva, Chord Therapeutics on its sale to Merck KGaA, LSP as lead investor on a EUR 20 million Series A Equity Financing in Innovative Molecules, Numab Therapeutics on a CHF 100 million Cross Over Financing, CatalYm on a EUR 50 million Series B financing led by Vesalius Capital, Casdin Capital on a USD 50 million extension of the Series B Equity Financing in DNA Script, and Chr. Hansen Holding on the acquisition of Jennewein Biotechnologie.
Legal advisor to FUNKE Digital:
Baker McKenzie
Lead:
Corporate/M&A: Silke Gantzckow LL.M. (partner, Frankfurt)
Team:
Corporate/M&A: Kathrin Weber LL.M. (senior associate, Frankfurt), Stephan Gönczöl LL.M. (associate, Munich)
IT: Holger Lutz LL.M. (partner, Frankfurt), Tobias Born (senior associate, Frankfurt)
Commercial: Joachim Fröhlich LL.M. (counsel, Munich), Johannes Teichmann (partner, Frankfurt)
Employment: Thomas Seidensticker LL.M. (senior associate, Munich)
IP: Michael Fammler (partner, Frankfurt), Lena Weber (associate, Frankfurt)