German team advises KOMSA major shareholders on merger with Westcoast

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised the major shareholders of information and communications technology (ICT) distributor and service provider KOMSA AG (KOMSA) on its merger with the UK-based Westcoast Group (Westcoast). The two market leaders will become Europe's largest family-owned ICT distribution alliance, with annual sales of more than €5.5 billion.

With their strategic partnership, the two companies plan to expand their ICT business in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany, with a focus on 5G mobile communications, cloud computing and mobile working. KOMSA, headquartered in Hartmannsdorf/Saxony, is expanding its IT expertise with this merger, while Westcoast will gain access to the German market.

Over the course of the merger, Westcoast will gradually take over the shares of KOMSA's founders. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals.

KOMSA is the largest sales, marketing and service partner for global telecommunications brands in Germany, partnering with around 200 international manufacturers and mobile operators and over 20,000 retailers. KOMSA Group's subsidiary, aetka, is the largest German association of independent specialist dealers. KOMSA also rents and operates smartphones for companies and runs one of the largest mobile phone workshops in Europe. With sophisticated logistics, up to 30,000 parcels are shipped to retailers, business and private customers every day.

Privately-owned Westcoast was established in 1984. The company's cloud, workplace and security business generates more than €4 billion in annual revenue. It works with 200 technology and retail partners, and acts as a distributor for a number of leading IT brands in Europe. Approximately 40,000 points of sale make Westcoast the largest IT distributor in the UK. Westcoast has offices in the UK, Ireland and France, as well as logistics centers in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The Norton Rose Fulbright team was led by Munich partner Dr. Philipp Grzimek and Hamburg counsel Dr. Malte Ingwersen (Corporate/M&A) and included associate Max Oscar Zeisler (Corporate/M&A), partners Dr. Andrea Spellerberg (Banking/Finance), Dr. Maren Stölting (Real Estate) and Claudia Posluschny (Employment) in Munich. In addition, the partners Karsten Kühnle (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Tino Duttiné (Tax Law, Frankfurt), Dr. Christoph Ritzer, (IT/Data Protection, Frankfurt), Daniel Marschollek (IP, Frankfurt/Munich), Tim Schaper (Antitrust Law, Hamburg), counsel Carolin Glänzel (Banking/Finance,Frankfurt), Oliver Polster (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Dr. Ingemar Kartheuser (IT/Data Protection, Frankfurt/Hamburg), Manuel Merling (IP, Frankfurt) as well as senior associate Jürgen Schlinkmann (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and senior tax associate Julia Gallinger (Tax Law, Hamburg), associate Michaela Zenkert (Labor Law, Munich), Natalia Filkina (IT/Data Protection, Frankfurt), André Hartmann (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Dr. Alexander Weigand (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Oliver Henningsmeier (Banking/Finance) and Transaction Lawyer Stephanie Warnicke (Real Estate, Munich) and Tobias Grans (Corporate/M&A, Munich).

Further support was provided by Agnieszka Braciszewska, Piotr Strawa, Joanna Braciszewska, Maciej Dubiel, Malgorzata Patocka, Aneta Janecka (Polish law).