Nicolaus Ascherfeld

Dr Nicolaus Ascherfeld

Partner

Email

nicolaus.ascherfeld@aoshearman.com

Phone

+49 40 82 221 2133

Offices

Hamburg

V-CARD
Nicolaus is Head of Germany M&A and has more than 20 years of experience in advising on a broad range of corporate transactions with a focus on private M&A and joint ventures.
Nicolaus is an expert in the infrastructure, energy and transport sector. Nicolaus is acknowledged by independent publications as one of the leading M&A lawyers and one of the leading experts for energy infrastructure transactions in Germany.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Iberdrola on the sale of interests in two offshore wind projects in Germany (Wikinger in 2022 and Baltic Eagle in 2023) including the relevant project agreements and shareholders agreements.
  • Fortescue on the acquisition of a 30% stake in the LNG Terminal Wilhelmshaven, the world’s largest integrated hydrogen project. 
  • Patrizia Infrastructure regarding rollout of EV charging stations throughout Germany in cooperation with Numbat.
  • A consortium comprising a group of financial institutions on the acquisition of a 49.9% stake in the planned 960 MW offshore wind farm "He Dreiht" from EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG.
  • Uniper on the sale of its gas fired power plant in Hungary to Veolia.
  • Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH (HGV) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg entering into a long-term strategic partnership with the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. in the context of a public takeover offer. Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA) will therefore be managed as a strategic joint venture in the future.
  • Engie on the acquisition of the public transport system electrification specialist Powerlines Group via Engie Ineo, its electrical engineering, information and communications systems services subsidiary.
  • DigitalBridge Group together with Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners on an agreement to acquire a 51% ownership stake in GD Towers.
  • Bayer on the sale of its men’s health product Nebido™ (testosterone undecanoate) to Grünenthal for a purchase price totaling up to EUR 500 million.
  • Bayer on the disposal of its global seed coating business via asset deal to Solvay, including carve outs in several jurisdictions.
  • Royal FrieslandCampina regarding the disposal of its Russian operations to Ehrman Group.
  • Royal FrieslandCampina regarding the disposal of its German operations, including the plants in Cologne and Heilbronn and the “Landliebe” Brand to Müller Group.
  • GeoSea on the acquisition of the entire offshore business from Hochtief AG, including heavy lift jack up vessels and related Financing.
  • VTG Tanktainer on the sale of its overseas activities to Suttons Group.
  • Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) on the acquisition of a 50% stake in German offshore windfarm Borkum Riffgrund 2 owned by a 50/50 JV of the seller Global Infrastructure Partners and the remaining stakeholder a renewable energy company (broken deal).
  • Windward a joint investment platform for investment and management of offshore wind service vessels (CSOVs) of Diana Shipping, Searenergy, Blue Star Group and several financial Investors.
  • Equitix on its acquisition of a portfolio of PFI/PPP and renewables assets (solar and onshore wind) owned by NIBC in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
  • Norges Bank Investment Management on the acquisition of a (significant) minority stake in a 600MW portfolio of utility-scale solar PV assets in Germany from EnBW.
  • DEME Group on the EUR 1.6bn acquisition, construction and financing of the Merkur offshore wind farm.
  • A major French energy company on general law advice regarding German solar framework conditions and an extensive solar feasibility study on solar investments.
  • An oil major on several large scale investments in the German oil refinery industry over more than a decade.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, German-American Lawyers' Association

Recognition

“One out of ten leading German M&A advisors”
LEGAL 500 2024 (M&A)
“One of the market leading advisors for Energy / Infrastructure - M&A”
JUVE Rechtsmarkt 01/2024

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as German Rechtsanwalt, 2001

Academic

Second German Law Degree, Kammergericht Berlin, 2000

First German Law Degree, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, 1997

Legal Studies in Heidelberg

Languages

English, German
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.