King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has advised the Frankfurt based private equity investor VR Equitypartner GmbH (VR Equitypartner) on the structuring, acquisition and financing of the Norafin Group.

The Norafin Group based in Mildenau (Sachsen) develops, produces and distributes technical nonwovens for industrial clients. The company currently employs around 160 people. The Norafin Group looks back on a long and successful company history. In the early eighties the company developed the first spunlace line in Europe in cooperation with the research institute for textile industry. Today, the company is well-known for its customer-oriented product solutions in the field of process-oriented air and liquid filtration as well as for its innovative for the protective clothing and construction industries. The acquisition of the majority interest in the Norafin Group by VR Equitypartner enables the rapidly-developing niche player to further growth.

VR Equitypartner is one of the leading private equity financiers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Typical reasons for investment are growth and expansion financing, corporate succession or a change of shareholders. VR Equitypartner offers majority and minority investments as well as mezzanine financing facilities. Its portfolio comprises around 100 investments with an investment volume of EUR 500 million.

The KWM team maintains a well-established long-term client relationship with VR Equitypartner. Most recently, KWM has advised VR Equitypartner on the acquisition of LEUNA-Tenside GmbH.

Advisors to VR Equitypartner:
King & Wood Mallesons, Germany

Banking & Finance:

* Sabine Schomaker (partner), Ulf Gosejacob (counsel, both Frankfurt)

Structuring/Tax:

* Markus Hill (partner, Frankfurt), Corina Hackbarth (counsel, Munich)

Corporate/M&A:

* Sandra Link (counsel, Frankfurt)

Employment:

* DBarbara Geck(partner), Daniela Gudat (associate)

EU/Competition:

* Tilman Siebert (partner), Helge Aulmann (associate, Munich)