Ashurst advised Grammer AG, a global supplier of automotive interior components and a leading producer of seating systems for commercial vehicles, on the acquisition of Toledo Molding & Die Inc. (TMD), based in Toledo, Ohio (USA). The TMD Group is a specialist in the development and production of thermoplastic products and applications mainly for vehicle interiors for the automotive and automotive supply industry.

The Ashurst team was led by corporate partner Dr Thomas Sacher, assisted by counsel Volker Germann, counsel Dr Gerrit Clasen, senior associate Felix Burkhart and associate Nicole Kaps (all corporate, Munich). Competition partner Ute Zinsmeister advised on all aspects of corporate competition law and the review of worldwide merger control filing as well as the coordination of filings in the US, assisted by counsel Dr Maria Held (both competition, Munich).

US law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, New York, advised on the preparation and execution of the acquisition as well as on the preparation of the necessary antitrust filing in the USA. The team was led by partners Steve Kaplan (corporate) and Michael Sibarium (competition), assisted by associates Lindsey Livingston and Evan Storm.

Ashurst has been advising Grammer AG for many years. With the support of Ashurst, automotive supplier Grammer AG's management succeeded against its shareholders Cascade International Investment GmbH and Halog GmbH & Co. KG, both belonging to the Hastor Group, at the company's Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2017.