International law firm Clifford Chance has advised asset investor Aquila Capital Holding GmbH on the agreement of a strategic partnership with Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co, Ltd, (DEI). DEI acquires a minority stake of 40 percent in Aquila Capital, whose founders Roman Rosslenbroich and Dieter Rentsch will continue to manage the company as majority stakeholders.

Aquila Group is an experienced and long-term investor in essential, real asset investments. Founded in 2001 the Group currently oversees EUR 9.5 billion in assets under management and administration for its clients worldwide (as at 31.10.2019).The firm invests in long-term trends in the renewable energy, social housing, green logistics, infrastructure, timber and agriculture sectors. DEI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daiwa Securities Group Inc, the leading Japanese financial services provider. With this partnership, Aquila Capital strengthens its market position for tangible asset investments into Europe from Asian investors and at the same time opens up investment opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Clifford Chance team advising Aquila Capital comprehensively on M&A, IP and regulatory aspects of the transaction was led by partners Stefan Bruder and Thomas Krecek and comprised associate Arian Nazari-Khanachayi (all Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), partner Josef Brinkhaus (Tax, Frankfurt), partner Gregor Evenkamp and counsel Alexandra Uhl (both Finance Regulatory, Frankfurt) as well as partner Claudia Milbradt and Associate Günter Barth (both IP, Düsseldorf).

Stefan Bruder, acting as co-leading partner on the transaction, comments: “We are pleased to have been able yet again to contribute to the deal our internationally informed experience on successful M&A transactions in the European asset management sector.”

In addition, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek has provided comprehensive legal advice to Aquila Capital on the transaction.

Inhouse at Aquila Capital, Florian Becker, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, led on the legal aspects of the transaction.