Deloitte Legal advises Springboard Network on the acquisition of German system.de

A Deloitte Legal team led by Felix Felleisen (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf) has advised Springboard Network, a group of leading European companies in the field of secure network solutions and managed services, on the acquisition of system.de - system & Project GmbH, an established German IT consultancy and Cisco partner. Peter Schulte, system.de’s CEO, will remain on board and reinvest in the purchaser group. The acquisition was supported by Quadrum Capital, an independent Dutch investment firm.

Springboard Network, a combination of the Dutch Avit Group and the Danish Wingmen, are building a leading European network of like-minded entrepreneurial IT infrastructure and cyber security specialists. Germany, the largest IT market in Europe, is part of Springboard's growth plans. The acquisition of system.de, with its strong reputation for in-depth expertise, gives Springboard a solid foundation in this highly competitive market.

The acquisition follows hot on the heels of Springboard Network's acquisition of Norwegian Friday Networks and marks another important milestone in the company's European expansion strategy.

System.de, with nearly 30 years of expertise, specializes in planning and managing complex ITC infrastructures across its Berlin, Hamburg, and Wismar offices. In its Service Manufaktur, system.de plans, implements and operates customer networks and services in its own state-of-the-art Network Operations Centers (NOC).

“It was great to have Felix and the Deloitte Legal team advise us on this important transaction” said Kåre Christensen, CEO of Springboard Network. ”Thanks to their legal expertise, experience and business acumen they provided excellent yet pragmatic advice and with their steady hand, helped us secure this great opportunity.” “I have worked with Felix and his team on previous transactions” adds Rob Tuinte, Investment Manager Quadrum Capital. “They have a lot of experience in dealing with transactions for Dutch investors and are great in pointing their clients to cultural and legal differences between the two countries.”

For Quadrum, a Dutch independent investment firm that invests in businesses, and entrepreneurs, with ambitious plans, the acquisition of system.de is an important milestone in the execution of Springboard’s M&A strategy. In April 2024, Quadrum Capital has announced the closing of its fourth fund, QIF IV, with an amount of EUR 400 million. Quadrum Capital’s track record entails 5 active Investment Funds, >25 portfolio companies and approximately EUR 1 billion in committed capital.

Advisor Springboard/Quadrum:

Deloitte Legal Rechtsantwaltsgesellschaft mbH: Felix Felleisen (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf, lead), Max Lüerßen (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Andreas Leclaire, LL.M. (Partner, Commercial, Düsseldorf), Sebastian von Rüden, LL.M. (Partner, IT/IP); Dr. Fleur Johanna Prop, LL.M. (Counsel, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Gerrit Neuhaus (Counsel, Employment Law & Benefits, Berlin), Pia Franziska Karapanos (Counsel, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf); Katrin Kiebel (Senior Associate, Commercial, Düsseldorf); Nicole Deneke (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf)

Alpex Legal BV: Patrick Gremmels (Partner, M&A, Amsterdam)

Advisors to Sellers/Management:

MOORE TK Legal GmbH Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft: Dr. Moritz Weber (Corporate/M&A, Managing Partner); Marc Conrad (Commercial, IP/IT)

Moore Treuhand Kurpfalz GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft Steuerberatungsgesellschaft: Viktor Apelganz (Tax, Partner, Berlin)

Boels Zanders NV Advocaten | Lawyers: Roald Subnel (M&A, Eindhoven); Janou Briaire (M&A, Eindhoven/Maastricht); Maurice Scheepers (M&A, Eindhoven)

Notary Public:

Dr. Kai Bischoff, Cologne

Anne-Marie Struycken-van Daelen, Zuidbroek BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

_{Published: Düsseldorf, October 2024}