Image of Dr Jonas Wittgens

Dr Jonas Wittgens

Partner

Jonas has almost 20 years' experience in the M&A/Corporate sector and advises strategic investors (particular public listed companies) as well as private equity investors in all kinds of M&A transactions across the industry but with a footprint in the transport and logistics as well as the energy and retail sector.

Particularly, he has broad experience in advising investors in taking private transactions targeting German blue chips, including domination / profit loss transfer agreements, mergers, squeeze-outs and delistings.

Further, he is focused on German Stock Corporation Law and advises boards of large listed companies in this respect, particular with respect controversial shareholders' meeting and in the areas of corporate governance, executive remuneration and business judgment decisions.

Jonas is also one of the very few specialists in Germany for complex court award proceedings (Spruchverfahren) following takeovers and represents clients in legal disputes with minority shareholders and in proceedings in front of the Federal Agency for Financial Market Supervision.

Expertise

Experience

Representative matters

  • Europe's largest tourism/travel company TUI on various landmark transactions, including the EUR 6.5bn cross-border all-share merger with TUI Travel plc., the disposal of Hotelbeds Group for EUR 1.2bn, the sale of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for EUR 1.2bn and the delisting from the London Stock Exchange. [Client consent received].
  • Globally operating container liner company Hapag-Lloyd on various buy- and sell-side transactions, including the acquisition of other liner companies and interests in port terminals across the globe.
  • Norway's $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund Norges Bank on various transactions involving German listed blue chips.
  • Germanys’ largest foundation RAG-Stiftung in a club-deal with PE investors Cinven and Advent on the EUR 19.4bn acquisition of thyssenkrupp Elevator.
  • Uniper, a German domiciled multinational energy company, on the hostile public takeover by Finnish investor Fortum.
  • Evonik Industries, on of the globally leading specialty chemicals company on the EUR 3.3bn public takeover of Degussa AG, subsequent squeeze-out, delisting and award proceeding.
  • Software group SAP on the public takeover of SAP System Integrations AG, subsequent squeeze-out, delisting and award proceeding.
  • alstria, Germanys’ leading manager for office real estate, on the public takeover by Brookfield.
  • Germanys’ leading port terminal operator HHLA in connection with the strategic investment by COSCO Shipping Ports Limited in HHLA’s container terminal Tollerort (Germany).

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as German Rechtsanwalt, 2007

Academic

First German Law Degree, 2002

Dr iur, University of Hamburg, Germany, 2006

Second German Law Degree, 2006

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.