Locations
Fieldfisher has advised Swiss Sonova Holding AG on its acquisition of AudioNova International B.V. (AudioNova). Sonova has acquired the company from HAL Investments B.V. (HAL). The value of AudioNova is EUR 830 million.
The closing of the transaction is still subject to approval by the regulatory authorities and is expected in the second half of 2016. Sonova, headquartered in Switzerland, is one of the world’s leading providers of innovative hearing solutions.
AudioNova is one of the largest European hearing aid retailers. The company runs more than 1,300 stores in eight countries; in 2015 the firm generated net sales of approx. EUR 360 million. HAL is the European investment subsidiary of HAL Holding N.V., an international investment company based in Curaçao.
Fieldfisher's cross-border team was led by Jan Hartmann (corporate), supported by Dr. Patrick Halfpap (corporate/finance) and Dr. Sascha Dethof (antitrust) in Düsseldorf. In Hamburg, Sara Bandehzadeh (corporate/commercial), Prof. Dr. Alexandra von Bismarck (IP), Philipp Stricharz (real estate) also advised. In Munich, Dr. Stefanie Greifeneder provided regulatory and compliance advice. Marie Evrard and Anne Kamp in Brussels, and Christopher Mesnooh in Paris also provided advice.
The Dutch law firm Stibbe was closely involved given that AudioNova is based in the Netherlands.