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10. June 2021VIA optronics AG acquires 100% of the shares in Germaneers GmbH
VIA optronics AG acquires 100% of the shares in Germaneers GmbH
Munich, May 2021 – Kloepfel Corporate Finance acted as exclusive M&A advisor to VIA optronics AG (VIA) in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Germaneers GmbH (Germaneers). The closing took place on 21 May 2021.
VIA, listed on the NYSE (ticker: VIAO), is a leading provider of interactive display systems and solutions. Through the acquisition of the high-tech engineering company with a focus on system integration as well as user interfaces, VIA is positioning itself more strongly in the automotive end market. Germaneers has already developed solutions for a number of well-known high-end original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Founded in 2009 by Andreas Dornhof and Sebastian Schnabel, Germaneers is known for developing innovative and state-of-the-art digital vehicle interiors to reach the next level of customer experience through Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), sensor and camera solutions. Automotive OEMs use Germaneers’ services from the earliest stages of vehicle development for design, system development and prototyping. Germaneers’ innovative technologies enable new control concepts in the control consoles, which are found in German and European premium car brands.
“Kloepfel Corporate Finance provided us with targeted and focused support in this transaction, which supports our growth strategy. With a high degree of coordination and precision in the process, the transaction was carried out in a solution-oriented manner for all parties involved. I would like to thank Dr. Frank and his team for their guidance, advice and support throughout the process. With the acquisition of Germaneers and their specific know-how and expertise, we are complementing our development with specific know-how to further accelerate our growth process,” says Jürgen Eichner, pleased about the cooperation.
“We have extensive competences and know-how in the automotive market and offer excellent solutions, but until now we only had a limited customer base,” said Andreas Dornhof, co-founder and CEO of Germaneers. “With VIA, we are now gaining global scale and, most valuable, a great and reliable partner who shares the same quality thinking and vision. We look forward to developing great solutions and achieving outstanding growth together,” said the former shareholder. Mr Dornhof and Mr Schnabel will hold key positions within VIA’s research and development organisation, with a focus on electronic and mechanical design.
The management of VIA and Germaneers are convinced that the strategic combination will create significant cross-industry and cross-technology as well as operational synergies and contribute to the development of additional potential in the automotive and other end markets.
Kloepfel Corporate Finance acted as exclusive M&A advisor to VIA and was able to structure, negotiate and successfully conclude the purchase of Germaneers with its client as part of a bilateral M&A process. The deal team led by Dr Heiko Frank consisted of Viktor Peters and Nikolai Üstündağ.