Noerr advises thyssenkrupp on forming strategic joint venture with Duisport

A team from Noerr led by Jens Liese and Gerrit Henze has advised thyssenkrupp on setting up a strategic joint venture between thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and Duisburger Hafen AG.

The joint venture company is thyssenkrupp Steel Logistics GmbH, in which thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG will hold 51% of the shares and Duisburger Hafen AG 49%. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG spun off thyssenkrupp Steel Logistics GmbH in 2022 and transferred its port logistics business to it.

thyssenkrupp Steel Logistics GmbH operates a large harbour complex, consisting of its Schwelgern and Walsum sites and associated units, and currently handles around 25 million tonnes of goods per year.

By entering into its joint venture with Duisburger Hafen AG, thyssenkrupp aims in particular to expand thyssenkrupp Steel Logistics GmbH’s operations to include business with third-party customers.

As part of the transaction, the Noerr team advised thyssenkrupp on the share transfer agreement and the joint venture agreement. Closing of the transaction is still subject to the usual approvals, in particular clearance by the merger control authorities.

In-house: Hardy Raddatz (senior legal counsel, thyssenkrupp AG), Fernando Iscar Rüland (senior legal counsel, thyssenkrupp AG), Birgit Kemper (senior legal counsel, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG), Pieter Wiepjes (compliance officer, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG)

Advisors to thyssenkrupp: Noerr

Team lead: Jens Liese (partner), Gerrit Henze (associated partner, both M&A, Dusseldorf)

M&A: Philipp Buchs (senior associate), Tina Neugebauer (associate, both Dusseldorf)

Antitrust & Competition: Kathrin Westermann (partner), Markus Brösamle (senior associate, both Berlin)

Tax: Andre Happel (partner), Thomas Renner (associate, both Frankfurt)