Hengeler Mueller advises SMS on takeover offer for elexis

20. July 2011

On 18 July 2011, SMS GmbH announced that it has successfully completed the regular acceptance period for the voluntary public offer to the shareholders of elexis AG to acquire all issued shares of elexis AG against payment of EUR 20.5 per share. Together with the 2.99% interest held at publication of the offer document and the 26.05% acquired outside the offer, SMS GmbH now holds 84.46% (7,770,299 shares) of elexis AG. elexis AG is a technological leader in manufacturing automation, drive technology and quality control.

SMS GmbH is the financial holding of the entirely family-owned SMS group, encompassing internationally leading companies engaged in manufacturing plant and machinery for industrial processing of steel, aluminium and non-ferrous metals. The companies of the SMS group are considered to be global market and technology leaders in their respective business fields.

Hengeler Mueller advised SMS GmbH on this transaction. Advice has been provided by partners Bernd Wirbel (Corporate/M&A) and Thorsten Mäger (Antitrust) as well as associates Dennis Schlottmann, Thomas Meyer (both Corporate/M&A) and Marcel Nuys (Antitrust) (all Düsseldorf).