Baker McKenzie advised the founders and owners of Digital Republic AG (Digital Republic) on selling the company to mobilezone Group (mobilezone). Digital Republic is a leading online provider of mobile internet (Mobile Virtual Network Operator, MVNO) in Switzerland.
With the acquisition of Digital Republic, mobilezone is adding a new, innovative business segment to their portfolio. Meanwhile, Digital Republic sees the joint opportunities in the Swiss telecom market and the potential to leverage synergies with mobilezone. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction. Closing is scheduled for the beginning of January 2023.
Digital Republic was founded in 2016 and will continue to be managed by the founders within mobilezone. For the financial year 2022, the company expects revenues of CHF 4.5 million. It employs around 20 people and is headquartered in Zurich.
Founded in 1999, mobilezone is the leading independent Swiss and German telecom specialist with sales of CHF 982 million and a consolidated net profit of CHF 50.7 million in the reporting year 2021. The registered shares of mobilezone (MOZN) are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange AG and it employs around 1,000 people at its locations in Switzerland and Germany.
Baker McKenzie Switzerland advised the owners of Digital Republic on all legal and tax aspects of the sale.
The team was led by Alexander Fischer (partner, M&A) and Matthias Trautmann (counsel, M&A), and included Cathrin Marxer (senior associate, M&A), Mario Kumschick (counsel, Tax) and Alexandra Garg (senior associate, Tax), as well as Eva-Maria Strobel (partner, IP) and Julia Schieber (partner, IP).