POELLATH advises owner families of uvex on investment by Warburg Pincus
U.S.-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus has acquired a majority interest in UVEX Winter Holding GmbH & Co. KG (“uvex”, “uvex group”), a leading family-owned provider of personal protective and sports protective equipment. The owner families Winter and Grau will retain a significant minority stake and will be actively involved in the future growth of the business. By partnering with Warburg Pincus, uvex will continue to accelerate growth globally, expanding its international presence, refining its premium product offering and growing in new segments. In addition, the company will also drive growth through M&A, building on successful transactions to date. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Fürth (Bavaria) uvex group has evolved into a global leader in protective safety and sports equipment. With the “protecting people” philosophy the company develops, manufactures and distributes products and services for the safety and protection of people at work, in sport and for leisure pursuits. The company’s broad product portfolio includes helmets, safety glasses, work shoes, gloves, as well as hearing and respiratory protection. Uvex employs more than 3,000 people and is represented by 49 subsidiaries in 23 countries.
Warburg Pincus is a U.S.-based private equity firm and is considered the pioneer in global growth investing in private equity. The investor currently manages more than USD 87 billion and has an active portfolio of over 220 companies, diversified across different phases, sectors and regions.
POELLATH provided comprehensive (German) legal and tax advice to uvex’s owner families with the following team:
- Otto Haberstock, M.C.J. (NYU) (partner, lead, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Dr. Maximilian Haag, LL.M. (Duke) (partner, private clients, Munich)
- Dr. Andreas Reuther (associated partner, employment law, Munich)
- Daniel Wiedmann, LL.M. (NYU) (associated partner, antitrust law/investment control, Frankfurt)
- Gerald Herrmann (associated partner, tax, Munich)
- Daniel Zhu (counsel, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Christine Funk, LL.M. (counsel, IP/IT, Frankfurt)
- Alexander Pfefferler (counsel, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Moritz Löffler, LL.M. (senior associate, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Marina Hennings, LL.M. (senior associate, real estate transactions, Berlin)
- Angelina Seelbach, LL.M. (Columbia) (senior associate, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Dr. Dominik Graf von Armansperg (senior associate, private clients, Munich)
- Daniel Hoppen (senior associate, antitrust law/investment control, Frankfurt)
- Florentine Wagner (associate, M&A/PE, Munich)
- Jannis Lührs (senior associate, tax, Munich)
- Niklas Kastel (associate, employment law, Munich)
Aspects regarding jurisdictions other than Germany have been advised in collaboration with local expert advisors.
