Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advises Janoschka Group on acquisition of Beck AG Swissform

With a team led by Frankfurt-based partner Dr. Günther M. Bredow, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, jointly with the Swiss law firm of Walder Wyss, advised Janoschka Group on the strategic acquisition of all shares in Swiss company Beck AG Swissform and the associated debt waivers by creditors.
 
Beck AG Swissform used to be an affiliate of the insolvent BECK Group, but was unaffected by its insolvency. The company, renamed as Janoschka Swiss AG, produces rotogravure cylinders. The fully automated line in the Swiss town of Bleienbach with current production capacity of 6,500 hollow cylinders is unique in Europe's German-speaking territory. Manufacturing capacity may be expanded to 10,000 cylinders if needed. Predominantly Swiss customers are to be supplied with its standardized processes. The 12-member team that has been taken over in its entirety is expected to generate sales of CHF 2 million in the current fiscal year.
 
Specializing in the prepress market and particularly in the packaging, tobacco, security and decor market segments, Janoschka, with more than 1,200 employees and annual revenue of EUR 92 million, is a leader in the international prepress industry. Renowned printing companies and international brands are accompanied throughout the entire process of packaging development. Consequently, Janoschka's product range is comprehensive and, based on extensive technical expertise and experience, includes printing forms for gravure and flexo printing, embossing rollers, artwork & reproduction, color management, cylinder bases, and much more. The company was founded in 1976 and is still family-operated. Headquartered in southern Germany, it comprises a global network of 24 production sites in fourteen countries in Europe, Asia, and South and Central America.
 
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek acted as coordinator of the legal advisors involved in the transaction and advised on structuring the transaction and comprehensively on matters pertaining to liability, financing, and insolvency under German law.
 
Counsel to Janoschka Group
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:
Dr. Günther M. Bredow (Lead)
Finn-Michael Liebscher, Alexander J. Thum (all Corporate)
Dr. Fabian Bürk, Christian Staps (both Reorganization)

Walder Wyss
Urs Knos, Markus Vischer, Christian Lütolf

In-house
Fabian Naudascher (CFO)