Noerr advises Cherry on conversion into an SE

With a team led by our Munich partner Ralph Schilha, our firm has advised Cherry on its conversion into a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE).

The conversion of publicly traded Cherry AG was decided upon by its general meeting on 8 June 2022 and came into force on 13 December 2022 upon entry into the commercial register.

Cherry SE is a global manufacturer of high-end switches for mechanical keyboards and computer input devices such as keyboards, mice and headsets. These are used in applications in gaming & e-sports, office & hybrid workplaces as well as in industry and the healthcare sector.

The company was founded in 1953 and was part of the technology group ZF Friedrichshafen AG from 2008 to 2016. 

Its operational headquarters are located in Auerbach, Bavaria, and production facilities in Auerbach, Zhuhai (China) and Vienna (Austria) as well as several sales offices in Auerbach, Pegnitz, Munich, Paris, Kenosha (USA), Taipei and Hong Kong. The shares of Cherry SE are traded on the Regulated Market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The Noerr team advised Cherry on all legal aspects of the conversion into an SE. The corporate law advice included in particular preparing the conversion documents and the virtual general meeting.

The employment law advice involved forming a special negotiating body (SNB), drafting the participation agreement and providing assistance during the negotiations with the special negotiating body.

Earlier this year, Ralph Schilha and his team also advised publicly traded Westwing Group SE extensively on its conversion into a European Company.

Advisors to Cherry SE: Noerr Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB

Team lead: Ralph Schilha (partner, Corporate/Capital Markets, Munich)

Employment
Patrick Mückl (partner), Mareike Götte (associated partner, Düsseldorf)
Daniel Dommermuth (associated partner, Munich)

Corporate/Capital Markets
Anne-Kristin Schiller (associated partner, New York)
Timm Gaßner (senior associate), Lisa Biburger (associate, Munich)

Local Counsel
France: Daher Avocats
Austria: Binder Grösswang
Sweden: Roschier