Dentons advises 1&1 AG on the €1.3 billion acquisition of Versatel from United Internet

Global law firm Dentons has advised 1&1 AG on the acquisition of 1&1 Versatel GmbH (“Versatel”) from its majority shareholder, United Internet AG, for an initial purchase price of €1.3 billion.

The transaction involves the purchase of all shares in United Internet Management Holding SE, the sole shareholder of Versatel. The supervisory board of 1&1 AG approved the conclusion of the share purchase agreement on November 21, 2025. The acquisition of the shares will take effect on November 30, 2025.

1&1 AG is acquiring Versatel with all its assets, in particular network infrastructure and debts, including approximately €950 million in loan liabilities to United Internet AG. This loan remaining with Versatel will be secured by a guarantee from 1&1 AG as part of the acquisition.

SDAX-listed 1&1 AG is a publicly listed German telecommunications provider and mobile network operator based in Montabaur. Since 2017, the company has been majority-owned by United Internet AG, an Internet specialist publicly listed on the MDAX.

Versatel is a provider of fiber optic connections for businesses, authorities, and institutions. The company operates a fiber optic network approximately 67,000 kilometers long, which reaches over 350 cities. Versatel also offers extensive preliminary services for other telecommunications companies. With the acquisition of Versatel, 1&1 AG will have the infrastructure required for its fixed-line and mobile communications business as well as its B2B business segment.

A multi-competency Dentons team, led by Corporate partners Dr. Robert Weber (Frankfurt) and Sebastian Klingen (Dusseldorf), advised 1&1 on the transaction. Dentons previously advised 1&1 on a voluntary public acquisition offer in the form of a partial offer by United Internet AG.

Advisors to 1&1 AG:

Corporate/M&A: Dr. Robert Weber (Partner, Co-Lead, Frankfurt), Sebastian Klingen (Partner, Co-Lead, Dusseldorf), Dr. Tobias Bünten (Partner, Dusseldorf), Greta Gauch (Counsel), Dr. Milan Schäfer (Associate, both Frankfurt), Julia Oelrich (Associate, Dusseldorf)

Public Law and Regulatory: Dr. Andreas Schuler (Counsel, Dusseldorf)

Intellectual Property and Technology: Jan Pohle (Partner), Nico Winter (Counsel), Verena Reichstein (Senior Associate, all Dusseldorf), Felix Fürstenberg (Senior Associate, Berlin)

Real Estate: Sebastian Schmid (Partner, Frankfurt/Berlin), Dr. Christoph Blotenberg (Associate, Berlin)

Employment and Labor: Dr. Sascha Grosjean (Partner), Dr. Josef Tahmaz, Dr. Lukas Jäger (both Counsel, all Dusseldorf)

Banking and Finance: Dr. Axel Schlieter (Partner), Paul Sieminski (Associate, both Dusseldorf)

Antitrust: Dr. Josef Hainz (Partner, Berlin)

1&1 AG (in-house): Dr. Christian Bron (General Counsel)