Baker McKenzie Switzerland advised publicly listed Datwyler on its acquisition of Swiss startup company CTsystems AG ("CTsystems").
With this acquisition, Datwyler, a specialist for system-critical elastomer components, is able to strengthen its position for the innovative future technology of electroactive polymers by obtaining several patents of CTsystems. Electroactive polymers in a unique stacked design enable completely new applications in the car of the future and in the markets of the general industry business unit of Datwyler. Electroactive polymers convert electrical energy into sensitive and versatile mechanical motion through elastic deformation. With the patented solution, it is possible for the first time to produce stack actuators on an industrial scale.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the performance-based purchase price.
Datwyler is a leading provider of high-quality, system-critical elastomer components and has leading positions in attractive global markets such as healthcare, mobility, food and beverage, and general industry. With more than 20 operating companies, sales in over 100 countries and close to 7,000 employees, Datwyler, headquartered in Switzerland, generates annual sales of more than CHF 1 billion. The company has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1986 (security No. 3048677).
Zurich-based CTsystems is a highly specialized Swiss engineering company that has significantly advanced the dielectric elastomer technology to market-ready products.
Baker McKenzie advised Datwyler on all the legal aspects of the transaction.
The Baker McKenzie team was led by Alexander Fischer (partner, M&A, Zurich) and Matthias Trautmann (counsel, M&A, Zurich) and consisted of Benedikt Rutscheidt (associate, M&A, Zurich), Andrea Puricelli (trainee lawyer, Zurich), Sandra Marmy (associate, IP, Zurich), Susanne Liebel-Kotz (senior associate, tax, Zurich), Cathrin Marxer (associate, M&A, Zurich), Julia Schieber (partner, IP, Zurich), Tiziana Hongler (associate, IP, Zurich) and Boris Wenger (partner, Zurich, antitrust and competition).