ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATS or the Company) completed the acquisition of all shares of M+W Process Automation GmbH and ProFocus LLC, collectively M+W PA, a leading global provider of engineering-based automation services and solutions focused on the control, performance monitoring and measurement of critical production processes. The purchase price based on enterprise value of approximately €248 million (C$362 million at current exchange rates) is subject to net debt and working capital adjustments.
ATS, headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, is a provider of innovative, custom designed, built and installed manufacturing solutions.
M+W PA, headquartered in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany is a supplier of all-in-one automation solutions for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries in Germany.
Stewart McCuaig, General Counsel at ATS, led the legal team. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP acted as Canadian counsel to ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. with a team led by Gordon Raman that included Linda Tu (corporate/securities); Rob Weir, James Fu and Patrick Trent (labour and employment) and Brennan Carroll (real estate). Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, acted as German counsel to ATS with a team that included Dr. Wessel Heukamp, Michael Moritz, Laura Greimel, Judit Gajdics.
Gleiss Lutz, acted as counsel to M+W PA with a team led by Dr. Jochen Tyrolt and Dr. Michael Arnold (corporate/M&A, Stuttgart); Johannes Schrägle, Nico Holtkamp and Dr. Markus Martin (corporate/M&A, Stuttgart); Dr. Achim Dannecker, Dr. Cindy Lahusen and Dr. Markus Wystrcil (tax, Stuttgart); Dr. Stefan Weidert (IT, Berlin); Dr. Herwig Lux and Linda Bittner (IP, Stuttgart); Dr. Claudia Wirth (real estate, Frankfurt); Stefan Kleimaier (employment, Stuttgart); Dr. Matthias Karl, Dr. Philipp Pichler and Patrick Grüner (antitrust, Stuttgart) and Frank Schlobach (finance, Frankfurt). Nicole Gerstle, Dr. Timo Fahrion, Corinna Arnold and Dr. Klaus Taraschka were involved as M+W Group’s in-house counsel.