Frankfurt—Global law firm Dentons has advised PREMIUM Equity Partners on the acquisition of the ic! berlin brillen group. ic! berlin is one of Germany’s best known premium eyewear brands on the international market. The co-founder and the CEO remain as shareholders. The transaction value is confidential.

PREMIUM Equity Partners was established in 2011 to invest in strong niche companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with revenues of €10-50 million. The company invests primarily in expansion financing, ownership succession of family-owned businesses, as well as corporate spin-offs. This is the first transaction of the PREMIUM Midsized Company Fund, which PREMIUM Equity Partners established together with Bankhaus Lampe earlier in 2017.

Established in 1999, ic! berlin group designs, produces and distributes eyeglasses out of metal sheet, acetate, horn as well as 3D-printed polyamide. It is well known for its innovative screwless frames. The eyewear manufacturer currently employs approximately 190 people and distributes its products in more than 60 countries.

Dentons partner Robert Bastian led the cross-border team, which advised PREMIUM Equity Partners on corporate, intellectual property, employment and tax aspects of the deal. He was supported by Dentons teams in Frankfurt and New York, by BASEAK - the Istanbul-based law firm which cooperates with Dentons in Turkey - and by Anderson, Mori & Tomutsune in Tokyo.

Advisors to Premium Equity Partners:

Dentons (Frankfurt): Robert Bastian (Partner, Private Equity/M&A), Dr. Constantin Rehaag (Partner, Intellectual Property and Technology), Frank Lenzen (Partner, Employment), Thomas Voss (Counsel, Tax), Tom Pagels (Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A), Anja Tschierschke (Senior Associate, Corporate), Thomas Treffer (Associate, Tax), Pascal Straszewski (Associate, Intellectual Property and Technology), Hasine Azim (Associate, Employment)

Dentons (New York): Kristina Beirne (Partner, Corporate/M&A), Irina Fayman (Associate, Corporate/M&A)

BASEAK: Selim Keki (Partner, Corporate/M&A), Sirma Zeytinoglu (Associate, Corporate/M&A)

Anderson, Mori & Tomutsune (Tokyo): Tsutomu Miyano (Partner, Corporate)

Advisor seller:

Warnke Rechtsanwälte (Berlin): Kristian Warnke (Partner), Johanna Rouette

Arqis Rechtsanwälte (Tokio): Ulrich Kirchhoff

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