Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised MDAX-listed housing company GAGFAH S.A. on combining its business with Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE, a German residential real estate company.

On 1 December, GAGFAH and Deutsche Annington reached a general agreement in the course of which Deutsche Annington announced to extend a voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of GAGFAH.

The combined company would have a market capitalisation of €9bn, making it the second largest listed real estate company in Europe with a portfolio value of nearly €21 billion. Freshfields regularly advises GAGFAH on capital markets transactions such as its capital increase and placement of shares in 2013.

The Freshfields team was led by capital markets and corporate partners Rick van Aerssen and Stephan Waldhausen, supported by competition partner Burkhard Richter, tax partner Martin Schiessl and employment partner René Döring.