SKW Schwarz advises ETAS on joint venture with National Instruments

SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte advised ETAS GmbH on forming a joint venture with National Instruments. The two companies entered into agreements to jointly design, manufacture, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop-(HiL)systems to optimize testing and validation of automotive electronics software.

The joint venture, in which both partners have a half share, will be based in Stuttgart. Subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals, the transaction is expected to close in June 2019.

Established in 1994, ETAS GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH with international subsidiaries and sales companies in 12 countries in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. ETAS offers innovative solutions for the development of embedded systems for the automotive industry. Its portfolio ranges from integrated tools and tool solutions to engineering services, consulting, training, and support.

National Instruments has been manufacturing automated test and measurement systems since 1976. The listed company, headquartered in Austin, Texas, with a German subsidiary in Munich, recorded total sales of US-$1.36 billion in 2018 and supplies more than 35,000 customers worldwide with branches in some 50 countries.

Counsel to ETAS GmbH:

SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte, Munich: Dr. Stephan Morsch (Lead, Corporate/M&A), Dr. Matthias Orthwein, LL.M. (IT & Digital Business), Dr. Angela Poschenrieder (Corporate/M&A)