A team jointly led by Dr. Peter Ladwig and Dr. Hermann Ali Hinderer, both partners at the Stuttgart office of the law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, advised Sodecia Group comprehensively on all legal aspects regarding the acquisition of the insolvent automotive supplier Kemmerich group, including its subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Spain, and the USA. Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek was also in charge of the antitrust review and filing as well as the legal due diligence. The acquisition was made from insolvency administrator Jan-Philipp Hoos. Josef Kemmerich, co-shareholder and general manager of Kemmerich group, was represented by Dr. Rainer Eckert and Dr. Eike Edo Happe.

Sodecia prevailed in a bidding process that was held under great time pressure. This strategically important acquisition of Kemmerich group strengthens Sodecia’s presence in Europe and the U.S. as well as its competitive position and technologies in all core markets.

Sodecia group, established in 1980, is a Portuguese automotive supplier with technology centers in Porto, Hanover/Germany, and Detroit. The group operates worldwide as a full service provider for structural parts and gears for the automotive industry. Sodecia is also active in the field of product research and development.

Kemmerich group has been operating in the automotive industry since 1897 and employs some 1,000 people worldwide at five sites. The family-owned business specializes in the design, construction, and production of high-quality stampings and welded assemblies made from various materials.

Counsel to Sodecia Group
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:
Dr. Peter Ladwig (Lead),
Dr. Hermann Ali Hinderer, LL.M. (Co-Lead),
Sonja Bayer, M.A.,
Dr. Alexander Schott,
Lena Ziegler (all Corporate/M&A), all Stuttgart
Dr. Rainer Velte,
Dr. Beatrice Stange,
Dr. Michael Vetter, LL.M. (all Antitrust), all Düsseldorf
Georg Streit,
Stephan Degen,
Fabian Bürk,
Kai-Uwe Büchler (all Reorganization), all Munich
Frank Hollstein (Purchasing/Customer Contracts),
Bernd Weller, both Frankfurt
Thorsten Leisbrock, Cologne
Johanna Bessing (all Employment), Frankfurt
Anton Horn,
Sönke Scheltz, both Düsseldorf
Ubbo Aßmus (all IP/IT), Frankfurt
Markus Beyer, (Corporate/M&A), Frankfurt
Nicole Armingeon, (Public Law)
Karen Ishola (Real Estate&Construction), both Stuttgart
Michael Neises,
Tobias Riemenschneider (both Finance), both Frankfurt