Private Equity/Venture Capital
SKW Schwarz advises private equity and venture capital funds from the fund structuring to the subsequent investment in majority shares (buy-outs) or capital investments until the exit strategy. In financing rounds we often act on the side of the management or the company as well. We prepare and structure the transactions, conduct the vendor/target due diligence, draft the contract documentation and carry out the project management.
For example, we support start-up companies during the first, private financing rounds and help the founders to ensure that they participate in the growing value of the company and limit their risks. In other cases we advise the management and the existing investors in further financing rounds. We also know how to support business angels and private investors during the early financing stages or other private investments in start-up companies.
Growth financing is the key aspect of our work. Our activities in the private equity and venture capital sector, with investments in either new, innovative growth companies (venture capital) or established, usually medium-sized companies (private equity), are therefore closely linked to our advisory activities in the area of corporate law (for example equity increases) or M&A transactions.
Examples
We supported an Israeli start-up company, which develops scan technologies and was financed by venture capital, in structuring and implementing an employee share programme and adequate corporate governance structures. During the second financing round we advised the new and existing shareholders on possibilities to raise new equity via a special purpose vehicle in Germany and during the trade sale to a US competitor.
During several financing rounds we supported a German venture capital fund and a leading Swiss private equity in acquiring shares in a French technology company. Among other things we negotiated preferential rights and drafted the complete contract documentation.
We helped a leading German market research company to acquire a share in a French software company. In this case, too, we negotiated preferential rights and drafted the contract documentation.