DuMont acquires majority stake in censhare AG with legal support from KPMG Law

KPMG Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH (KPMG Law) advised DuMont on the acquisition of a majority stake in Munich-based censhare AG. In the course of the transaction, the overall corporate governance of censhare AG was realigned. The German Federal Cartel Office has cleared the transaction.

After KPMG Law had already advised the company on the acquisition of a minority stake in censhare in 2017, the M&A team led by Partner Maximilian Gröning and Senior Manager Maximiliane Prüm was now able to support DuMont in the legal structuring and implementation of the majority stake. The corporate law advice was provided by the antitrust practice led by KPMG law partner Dr. Gerrit Rixen. One of the crucial points for success was the multidisciplinary consulting approach. Thus, KPMG Law also worked closely with the experts of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft from TAX and Deal Advisory on this transaction.

censhare was founded in 2001 and currently employs over 280 people in a total of seven countries. Since its founding, the company has built up a large portfolio of customers, including Vitra, BSH Hausgeräte, Lufthansa, McDonald’s, REWE and Swiss Re.

DuMont operates in three business segments: Regional Media, Business Information and Marketing Technology. The company’s media brands include Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Kölnische Rundschau, Berliner Zeitung, Express, Berliner Kurier and Hamburger Morgenpost. DuMont also has a stake in Facelift, the European market leader for social media marketing software, and, via the venture fund Capnamic, in other young, fast-growing companies.

Consultant DuMont
KPMG Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH: Maximilian Gröning, Partner, Corporate/M&A, Maximiliane Prüm, Senior Manager, Corporate/M&A, Lead, both Düsseldorf; Dr. Gerrit Rixen, Partner, Cologne, Dr. Hannes Schwinn, Senior Manager, Stuttgart, both Antitrust Law
KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: Jörg Ufer, Partner, Tobias Flacke, Manager, both Deal Advisory, M&A Tax, both Düsseldorf

Advisor Selling Shareholder
P+P Pöllath + Partners: Dr. Eva Nase, Partner
Keller Menz: Sanjay Bakshi, Partner

Consultant censhare
Noerr