Danish wind technology company PolyTech has acquired fos4X GmbH, a Munich-based innovator for fiber optic sensor technology and data analysis for the wind industry. The transaction includes a roll-over of certain selling financial investors into PolyTech. International law firm Taylor Wessing, led by Partner Dr. Peter Hellich and Partner Dr. Philip Cavaillès, advised all shareholders of fos4X on the transaction: Bayern Kapital, Equinor Energy Ventures Fund, Falk Strascheg Holding, High-Tech Gründerfonds, UVC Partners, the management team including founder Dr. Lars Hoffmann and various business angels.
Founded in 2010, fos4X combines fiber optic sensors, state-of-the-art signal processing and scalable IIoT infrastructure. With its 100 employees and operations in Germany and China, the Company has developed innovative fiber optic sensor technology for the wind industry and registered more than 130 patents to date. The technology developed by fos4X utilises data-driven approaches such as machine learning to digitise and optimise existing and new wind turbines. Its intelligent solutions are used by wind turbines all over the world to optimise their operations.
PolyTech, which is backed by Verdane Capital since 2016, specialises in solutions that improve the performance and protection of wind turbine blades for newbuild and retrofitting to reduce the overall Levelized Cost of Energy. PolyTech is growing rapidly and since 2013 the number of employees has increased from 35 to 700 across its operations in Denmark, China, Mexico and the United States. The acquisition of fos4X strengthens PolyTech’s position as a blade technology specialist.
Legal advisors fos4X/shareholders:
Taylor Wessing: Dr. Peter Hellich (Partner) and Dr. Philip Cavaillès (Partner) (both Lead), Dr. Daniel Schrembs (Salary Partner), Till Schwichtenberg (Associate) all Corporate/M&A, Klara Pototzky (Associate, Employment, Pension & Mobility) all Munich, Stephan Manuel Nagel (Partner), Dr. Michael Brüggemann (Partner), Dr. Melanie Moser (Associate), Paulina Stemmler (Associate) all Competition, EU & Trade, Dr. Bert Kimpel (Partner), Johanna Thünnesen (Associate) both Tax, all Düsseldorf, Kai Schlender (Associate), Alex Zou (Associate) both China Desk, Frankfurt/Shanghai.
