21.06.2023

Luther advises Unigestion on the financing for the acquisition of Springer Fachmedien München

Frankfurt am Main, 21 June 2023 – The private equity division of the Swiss asset manager Unigestion SA is acquiring Springer Fachmedien München and its business for education and training solutions in the mobility sector: The result is the TecVia Group, which supports driving schools and learner drivers with its software solutions. Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft advised Unigestion on the acquisition financing of the transaction.

Background

In the context of a carve-out, Unigestion acquires 100% of Springer Nature's business for education and training solutions in the mobility sector. The business is headquartered in Munich with Springer Fachmedien München based there. This includes further companies in Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Switzerland. In the individual markets, the group is known through strong brands such as Verlag Heinrich Vogel, Codes Rousseau and Etrasa.

The acquisition financing for the transaction was provided by an international banking syndicate consisting of five banks or funds. Luther advised Unigestion on the legal structuring and on the negotiation of the financing documentation.

Luther's financing team continuously advises banks, credit funds and investors on acquisition and corporate financings.

The businesses are bundled in the new TecVia Group, which plans further growth. In addition to organic growth, including in the driving simulators segment, the management sees potential through strategic acquisitions and is selectively examining acquisition opportunities. As a financially and strategically strong partner, Unigestion supports the international growth of the new group.

About TecVia:

The newly formed TecVia Group is the leading pan-European provider of content and software solutions for driving licence education and commercial driver education and training. From a fully comprehensive ERP system with interfaces for third-party providers to teaching software for all driving licence categories and content for commercial drivers to digital learning media for learner drivers, TecVia offers the complete range of services. The company is also active in the growing market for driving simulators with its own software and specific hardware concepts.

TecVia is excellently positioned as the only full-service partner for driving schools. In 2022, the nearly 400 employees in five countries – Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Austria – supported more than 20,000 driving school customers, through which approximately 1,600,000 learner drivers prepared for the theoretical and practical driving test with TecVia content and tools.

About Unigestion:

Unigestion is an independent, specialised asset manager headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, offering solutions to investors worldwide. Investments are divided into four areas of expertise - equities, private equity, multi-asset and wealth management - with a large proportion of assets selected on the basis of ESG considerations.

On behalf of Unigestion:

Luther, Capital Markets, Banking & Finance: Christoph Schauenburg, LL.M. (Partner), Volkan Top (Senior Associate), Stefan Jokel (Senior Associate)

Luther, Tax Law: Dr Bela Jansen (Partner), Henner Heßlau (Senior Associate)

On behalf of the banks:

Ashurst LLP: Dr Matthias Weissinger, LL.M. (Partner), Dr Philipp Vorbeck (Counsel), Dr Galina Matjuschkin, LL.M. (Associate)