Hengeler Mueller advises Oaktree on acquisition of RAFI

28. January 2020

Funds advised by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree") have acquired RAFI GmbH & Co. KG ("RAFI"). Sellers are the two managing partners Gerhard Schenk and Albert Wasmeier. Oaktree is a global investment manager specialising in alternative investments, headquartered in Los Angeles/USA. RAFI group develops and produces electromechanical components and systems for human-machine interaction. Headquartered in Berg/Germany, the company operates internationally with approx. 2,500 employees at sites in Germany, Europe, China and the USA.

Hengeler Mueller advised Oaktree on the transaction comprehensively. The team was led by partner Annika Clauss and included partners Peter Weyland (both M&A), Daniela Böning (Financing), Hendrik Bockenheimer (Employment) (all Frankfurt), Alf-Henrik Bischke (Antitrust) and Vera Jungkind (Public Law) (both Düsseldorf) as well as associates Florian Hassner, Anna Gotting, Benedikt Hoegen (all M&A), Miriam Peter, Tobias Braun (both Financing), Marius Mayer (Employment), Frauke Asendorf (IP/IT), Dominik Stolz (Real Estate) (all Frankfurt), Anja Balitzki, Fabian Grossmann (Antitrust), Norman Koschmieder and Anna Eickmeier (both Public Law) (all Düsseldorf).

In the course of the transaction, Hengeler Mueller advised Oaktree also on acquisition financing for the first time. Best Friends law firm BonelliErede (Italy) as well as Fangda Partners (China), Choate Hall & Stewart LLP (USA), Wolff Theiss (Hungary) and NautaDutilh (Luxembourg) acted as local counsel for Oaktree.