Taylor Wessing advises shareholders of Zanox.de AG during sale to Axel Springer AG and Swiss Schweizer PubliGroupe AG

TAYLOR WESSING has acted as counsel to the shareholders of Zanox.de AG, including financial investor Amity Ltd. of London, in the sale to Axel Springer AG and Swiss PubliGroupe AG. The total volume of the acquisition deal, including earn-outs, amounts to up to EUR 300 M, with Springer taking over 60% and PubliGroupe 40% of the shares. The deal is not only Axel Springer’s largest acquisition in the online business ever, but also the biggest European online transaction in 2007. Subject to permission of the German, Austrian and Swiss cartel authorities, the acquisition will take retroactive effect from 1 January 2007. Contract negotiations were preceded by a structured bidding procedure of corporate finance partners. In the end, Springer and PubliGroupe joined forces in a strategic bidding consortium to jointly acquire the shares.

Taylor Wessing has been advising Zanox.de AG since the company was set up in 2000. Dr. Mario Ohle of Taylor Wessing Berlin acts as chairman of the company’s supervisory board. Corporate partner Dr. Frank Koch, Hamburg, acted as lead partner in this deal.

Zanox.de AG, a global player established in more than 30 countries, including the US, China, UK, France, Spain and Italy, is market leader in success-based multichannel commerce. With the platform Zanox XS, the Berlin-based enterprise if offering a global marketing solution for effective online and offline sales of products and services. The company has operated profitably since its establishment and currently employs 275 people.

The customers of Zanox.de AG include Amazon, Procter & Gamble, Jamba!, Vodafone, o2, Lycos, Expedia, Allianz, Citibank, Axa, Sixt, DaimlerChrysler, Quelle and Staples.

Zanox.de AG was set up in 2000 by members of the board Thomas Hessler, Heiko Rauch and Jens Hewald, who will continue to direct the company.

Dr. Mario Ohle, IP/IT Partner at Taylor Wessing who has acted for Zanox since the beginnings in 2000, says about the deal:

“The transaction is a success story every legal counsel would like to see for his client: A global player from start-up with seven employees up to the successful sale.“

Thomas Hessler, chairman of the board of zanox.de AG:

“Taylor Wessing has supported us ever since our beginnings, with far more than legal advice. What I appreciate about Taylor Wessing is the commercial approach and high commitment level. In our case, the combined IP/IT and Corporate/M&A expertise were perfect for the sales negotiations.”

Counsel to Zanox.de AG: Taylor Wessing:

Dr. Frank Koch, (lead partner), Robert Wethmar, both Corporate Hamburg, Hassan Sohbi, Corporate Frankfurt (counsel to Amity), Philipp von Alvensleben LL.M., Corporate Berlin, Dr. Gregor Schmidt, IP/IT Berlin, Dr. Axel von dem Bussche, IP/IT Hamburg, Dr. Matthias Kast, Employment & Pensions Berlin

Counsel to Axel Springer AG:

SJ Berwin

Counsel to Publi Groupe AG:

Hogan Hartson