International law firm Bird & Bird advises Gamma Communications plc (Gamma), a leading provider of technology-based communication services across Europe, on its agreement to acquire SF Technologies Holding GmbH (STARFACE), a prominent provider of IP telephony and cloud PBX solutions in Germany, from Maxburg Capital Partners, a leading private equity fund focusing on founder-led technology companies in the German speaking region. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Gamma aims to be the leading challenger to the incumbent telecommunication providers in the German cloud communication market, transforming the SME communications landscape with innovative, agile, and customer-focused solutions.
The acquisition positions Gamma as a market leader, becoming one of the top providers of cloud seats in Germany and accelerating cloud adoption in a market with significantly lower cloud penetration than the UK. Gamma now offers full coverage of the German SME market, supported by a strengthened ecosystem of the STARFACE’s extensive partner network, which also covers Austria and Switzerland.
STARFACE further expands Gamma’s comprehensive UCaaS portfolio, offering for SMEs, and supports Gamma’s ambition to disrupt the German market incumbents, drive cloud adoption, and deliver future-proof innovation. STARFACE’s robust partner ecosystem will further complement and strengthen Gamma’s channel capabilities, ensuring greater flexibility and accessibility for businesses.
In addition, Bird & Bird has advised on a facilities agreement, which will be used, in part, to finance the acquisition.
Gamma Communications plc has been advised by the following Bird & Bird lawyers: partner Stephan Kübler, LL.M (lead on the acquisition), partner Stefan Münch and Counsels Michael Gaßner and Dr. Christina Lorenz, LL.M. (all Munich, Corporate), partner Dr. Fabian Niemann (Düsseldorf), partner Dr. Miriam Ballhausen, (Hamburg), senior Counsel Lea Mackert, LL.M. (Düsseldorf), associates Alexandre Franke (Düsseldorf), Dr. Juliana Kliesch (Hamburg) and Robin Schick (Frankfurt), all IT/Software, senior Counsel Valerian Jenny and associate Dr. Felix Hempel, LL.M. (both Frankfurt, Regulatory), partner Dr. Stephan Waldheim (Düsseldorf), associates Dr. Florian Hinderer (Munich), Tamy Tietze and Gitty Narymany Shandy (both Düsseldorf), all EU & Competition, partner Dr. Markus Körner and associate Yvonne Schaafs (both Munich, IP/Trademark), partner Dr. Ralph Panzer, Counsel Sandy Gerlach, and associates Cara-Marlene Fuchs and Christoph Lutz (all Munich), Alisa Nentwig and Leonie Bleilevens (both Dusseldorf) all Employment, partner Claire Barker (lead on the financing) and associates Toby Cooper and Dan Campbell (all London, Finance & Financial Regulation), partner Dr. Michael Jünemann and associate Jonathan Stoldt (both Frankfurt, Finance & Financial Regulation).