Baker & McKenzie advised the Swiss investor Constellation on the acquisition of a majority stake in the HSM group.

In close cooperation with the owners and the management which will continue to be operationally involved, Constellation acquired a majority interest in HSM Group. The acquisition was structured as a share deal. Baker & McKenzie advised on all contract negotiations, as well as on matters relating to corporate law, labor law, tax law and public law. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

HSM Group, established in 1997, today holds a leading market position and has an excellent reputation as a service provider to the railway sector. The group employs approximately 900 staff. Its clients include all major public and private rail freight and passenger operators and infrastructure managers. The group is active in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.

"Despite tight deadlines, we were able to implement our client's legal objectives in a remarkably short time. Constellation wants to enhance growth opportunities for HSM Group together with the management of the group in order to develop the company further," commented Dr. Michael Bartosch, corporate partner at Baker & McKenzie in Munich, on the transaction.

Constellation focuses exclusively on majority stakes in service companies based in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, which are active in the areas of Business Services, Education & Lifestyle, Healthcare and Financial Services.

Baker & McKenzie's Corporate/M&A team regularly advises on cross border transactions and restructurings. Most recently, Baker & McKenzie advised MAT Holdings on the acquisition of Federal Mogul's braking sector, Telefónica/E-Plus on the sale of yourfone to Drillisch, Flowserve Corporation on a bid for the acquisition of SIHI-Group, HOCHTIEF on the sale of its property management business to vincitag group, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen on a strategic partnership with a Chinese manufacturer, Clariant on the sale of its Energy Storage business to Johnson Matthey Plc as well as Meibah International GmbH on the public takeover of Schumag AG.

Legal representative of Constellation: Baker & McKenzie

Lead:   

Corporate: Dr. Michael Bartosch (partner, Munich), Dr. Alexander Fischer (partner, Zurich) 

Further team:   

Corporate: Dr. Jon Marcus Meese (partner, Munich), Dr. Tino Marz (associate, Munich), Konrad Hildebrand (associate, Munich

Commercial: Joachim Fröhlich (counsel, Munich)

Employment: Dr. Christian Reichel (partner, Frankfurt), Annekathrin Haffke (associate, Frankfurt)

Public Law: Dr. Marc Gabriel (partner, Berlin), Caroline Heinickel (counsel, Frankfurt), Dr. Julia Pfeil (senior associate, Frankfurt)

Tax: Dr. Dr. Norbert Mückl (partner, Munich), Mario Kumschick (partner, Zurich)