Heuking Advises Aves One AG on Investment Agreement to Secure Growth Financing and on Voluntary Public Takeover Offer by Swiss Life Asset Management and Vauban Infrastructure Partners

August, 2021 - Germany

A team led by Partners Dr. Thorsten Kuthe, Michael Neises and Boris Dürr advises publicly listed Aves One AG on an investment agreement to secure growth financing and a voluntary public takeover offer by Swiss Life Asset Management and Vauban Infrastructure Partners.

Aves One AG’s acquisition by Vauban and Swiss Life Asset Managers aims to guide Aves One AG into the next stage of its development, supported by access to equity and debt capital for further growth. The bidder intends to launch a voluntary public takeover offer at a cash consideration of EUR 12.80 per Aves One share. The offer price corresponds to a premium of about 38.1% on the volume-weighted average share price of the three months prior to announcement of the transaction for a total Aves One AG enterprise value of about EUR 1 billion. Following a successful takeover, the consortium intends to provide Aves One AG with additional capital of EUR 100 million and potential additional capital to optimize Aves One AG’s capital structure and to finance further growth.

The shareholders holding a total of more than 85% of Aves One AG shares have committed to the bidder, subject to certain conditions, to tender their shares in the tender offer.

Aves One AG is an asset owner of durable rail assets with a modern and profitable freight wagon portfolio. Aves One is an established participant in the European rail freight market. Its strategy is geared towards continual optimization and further expansion of its rail portfolio. Heuking Partner Kuthe has been advising the company since the IPO of its current business.

Macquarie Capital acts as M&A advisor to Aves One.

Counsel to Aves One AG
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:

Dr. Thorsten Kuthe (Lead, Capital Markets/M&A), Cologne
Michael Neises (Lead, Capital Markets /M&A), Frankfurt
Boris Dürr (Lead, Corporate/M&A), Munich
Dr. Christoph Küster,
Christian Schild, LL.M.
Katharina Prasuhn (Corporate/M&A), Munich
Stefan Westerheide, LL.M. (Capital Markets), Cologne
Christopher Görtz (Lead Vendor Due Diligence), Cologne
Judy-Anne Krug, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A), Hamburg
Dr. Tilman Spancken (Real Estate & Construction), Düsseldorf
Dr. Florian Brombach, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A), Düsseldorf
Bernd Weller,
Dr. Christoph Gerhard (both Employment), both Frankfurt
Dr. Patrick Müller, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A), Düsseldorf
Dr. Stefan Jöster, LL.M. (Litigation/Arbitration), Cologne
Dr. Lutz Keppeler, LL.M. (IP, Media & Technology), Cologne
Fabian G. Gaffron,
Dr. Sarah Slavik-Schulz (both Tax), both Hamburg
Dr. André-M. Szesny, LL.M.,
Dr. Susanne Stauder (both Wirtschafts- und Steuerstrafrecht), both Düsseldorf
Dr. Christoph F. Wetzler (Banking & Finance), Frankfurt
Dr. Christian Appelbaum (Corporate/M&A), Düsseldorf
Stefan Bretthauer (Antitrust), Hamburg

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