Transnational  transaction:  Dessau-based  family  firm  Debolon gains access to international markets

Leipzig – British Altro Group acquired a majority  stake  in Dessau-based flooring manufacturer Debolon in December 2015.  Luther  Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft  advised  Debolon,  and the family who owns it, throughout the takeover.

Altro and Debolon are both family-run businesses, so share the same company structure. Both companies are third-generation family firms. Altro was founded in 1919, and Debolon in 1929. The takeover is a win for both companies.

Altro, which manufactures floor coverings and wall covering systems, can use Debolon's products to extend its own product range. Debolon products will continue to be  sold under the Debolon brand name in the future. The British firm is also gaining a powerful manufacturing base in Central Europe. It plans to expand the Dessau site and invest in the Debolon brand.

Debolon will  gain new sales channels and additional storage facilities. Debolon products may be sold worldwide in the future.

About Debolon

Around  120  staff  design  and  manufacture beautiful,  functional  high-end  vinyl  floorings.  Debolon  was  the  world's  first  vinyl  flooring manufacturer to stop using phthalates as plasticizers in 2012.

On behalf of Debolon

Luther,  Mergers  &  Acquisitions:  Denis  Ullrich  (Lead  Partner),  Dr. Klaus Schaffner (Partner),  Steffen  Häberer,  Nino  Ron  Waberski, Goetz Baron Schlotheim-
Reinbrecht (all Leipzig)
Luther, Real  Estate  and  Real  Estate  Management  Law:  Dr.  Thomas Gohrke (Partner), Andreas Mally, Johannes Wolff (all Leipzig)
Luther, Environmental   Planning,   Regulation:   Dr.   Stefan   Kobes (Partner, Berlin), Dr. Sabrina Desens (Leipzig)
Luther, Labour Law: Robert Pacholski, Thorsten Tilch (both Leipzig)

On behalf of Altro Limited

DLA Piper UK LLP:

Lead  Partner  Dr.  Michael  Burg  (Corporate,  Cologne)  and  Lead Partner  Dr.  Dietmar  Schulz  (Restructuring,  Munich),  Partner  Jan Eltzschig,   Senior   Associates   Timo   Betjemann   (all   Corporate, Cologne)   and   Silvio   McMiken   (Corporate,   Munich),   Associates Maren Beneke, Dr. Simon Boll and Johannes Janning (all Corporate, Cologne)
Senior    Associate    Oliver    Otto    (Restructuring,    Frankfurt)    and Associate Dr. Marius Hommer (Restructuring, Berlin),
Partner   Dr.   Markus   Beaumart   (Real   Estate,   Cologne),   Partner Fabien  Mühlen  (Real  Estate,  Frankfurt)  and  Associate  Moritz  Mursa (Real Estate, Cologne)
Partner  Dr.  Kai Tumbrägel,  Counsel Saskia  Lais-Jansen  and  Senior Associates  Doerthe  Minde  and  Dr.  Stephanie  Rohlfing  (all  IPT, Cologne)
Counsel Marcus Kamp, Senior Associate Markus Iske and Associate Rodrigo Weihermann (all Employment, Cologne)
Associate Dr. Gregor Schroll (Antitrust law, Cologne)