Dr. Wilhelm Nolting-Hauff

Partner

Düsseldorf

Wilhelm Nolting-Hauff primarily advises on company acquisitions and sales, leveraged buy-outs, joint ventures and strategic partnerships as well as on general corporate law issues.

Wilhelm advises global companies and investors on complex, often cross-border M&A transactions. A particular focus is on clients from the China region, advising them on their investments in Germany.

He is regularly recommended in leading legal publications, including JUVE and Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers, for his "precise negotiation and solution-oriented representation of clients' interests".

Wilhelm has been teaching at the University of Münster since 2003 in the Mergers & Acquisitions postgraduate course and regularly publishes papers on current topics in the areas of M&A, funds and private equity.

Engagements
Wilhelm has acted as lead Partner for the following companies in the transactions and projects mentioned:
- Advanced Technology & Materials and Integrity Capital Partners on their acquisition of German carbon-fiber specialist COTESA
- AEONMED on the acquisition of Heyer Medical AG
- Aker Wirth on the take-over by Aker-Group
- Algebra Gesellschaft für Beteiligungen on the acquisition of Weidinger Group
- Bergfürst AG on capital increase and entry of CommerzReal as new shareholder
- Centrotec Sustainable AG on sale of Bond-Laminates to LANXESS
- Chaowei Power (Changxing) in a German-Chinese joint venture with the Franconian MOLL-Group
- Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane / TX Logistik AG on the takeover of the Exploris Group
- Frauenthal Group on the acquisition of the commercial vehicle springs business from ThyssenKrupp
- Guangzhou Luolai Home Textile on proposed acquisition of leading German bedroom furniture manufacturer
- Hueck Industrie Holding on the sale of HUECK Extrusion to Norske Hydro
- Knauf on the acquisition of Interfer-Group from Bain Capital
- KUKA Home (Hangzhou Jason Furniture) on the acquisition of ROLF BENZ
- Luxempart on the acquisition of shares in physiotherapy provider Novotergum AG
- Luxempart invests in Deutsche Fachpflege Group
- Nanjing Estun Automation and China Renaissance Capital (CRCI) on the acquisition of Cloos-Group
- Nitto Denko on the acquisition of nolax airbag AG
- Shareholder of Protel Hotelsoftware on sale to Advent and Eurazeo
- Scheuten Glasgroep on joint venture with Interpane Glas Industrie
- Shenzhen QFAT Investment Group on the intended acquisition of a leading German manufacturer of high-tech materials
- Thales and EADS on the sale of Bayern Chemie to MBDA
- Vantage Towers AG on multi-billion-euro takeover by KKR and GIP and on going private
- Vapiano Group and its shareholders on capital increase and acquisition of shareholding by Bio Exchange GmbH
- Wickeder Westfalenstahl on the sale of its cold-strip business

Insights

Events

News

D: +49 211 3678 7142
E:[email protected]

Address:

Heinrich-Heine-Allee 12
Düsseldorf, 40213
Germany

vCard

Practices

Admitted In
- Germany
Education
- University of Düsseldorf, Second State Examination, 1997
- University of Heidelberg Faculty of Law, Dr. jur., 1995
- University of Heidelberg, First State Examination, 1994
Honors
- "Top 10 M&A Lawyer Germany" (Finance/Merger Links, 2022)
- "Top M&A lawyer in Germany" (Wirtschaftswoche 2018)
- JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms: referenced as an "outstanding" lawyer and "personality of integrity... with commercial understanding, who represents clients' interests emphatically, with a sense of proportion and in a solution-oriented manner" and is therefore qualified as "frequently recommended"
- "Leader in his field" (Legal) Experts Europe
- "Germany's best lawyers 2023" (Handelsblatt)
Languages
- German
- English
Speeches
- The M&A Auction Process, annually (since 2003), Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster
- Risk Management by way of Compliance - Legal Framework (Risikomanagement durch Compliance - Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen), January 23, 2008
- First M&A Talks in Münster (1. Münsteraner M&A Gespräch), November 11, 2004 / Düsseldorf, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster.
- Hedge Funds – Position and Perspectives in the German Market (Hedge Fonds - Position und Perspektiven im deutschen Markt), November 9, 2001.
Publications
- "Arbitral Expert Clauses, Arbitration Agreements and Mediation Agreements" ("Schiedsgutachtenklauseln, Schiedsvereinbarungen und Mediationsabreden"), in: Rotthege/Wassermann (publishers), M&A at the German GmbH ("Unternehmenskauf bei der GmbH"), 2019 (co-authored with Siegfried Elsing)
- "In the focus: Multi-party atypical silent company and the defective partnership doctrine" ("Im Blickpunkt: Mehrgliedrige atypisch stille Publikumsgesellschaft und Grundsätze über die fehlerhafte Gesellschaft"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 1/2014, p. 12 et seq.
- Analysis of recent landmark decision by the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) of 18th May 2013 regarding adjustment of conditions for participation rights upon conclusion of profit and loss transfer agreements ("Genuss ohne Reue" - BGH urteilt über Anpassung von Genussrechtsbedingungen bei Abschluss von Unternehmensverträgen), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 12/2013, p. 3 et seq.
- "What remains of the managing director's liability for causing insolvency pursuant to Section 64 Sentence 3 of the German Law on Limited Liability Companies (GmbHG)" - Comment on the resolution of the German Federal Supreme Court (BGH) of 9 Oct. 2012 - case no. II ZR 298/11 - ("Was von der Insolvenzverursachungshaftung des Geschäftsführers nach § 64 S. 3 GmbHG bleibt" - Zugleich Besprechung von BGH v. 9.10.2012 - II ZR 298/11 -), GmbHRundschau 4/2013, p. 169 et seq. (together with Dr. Sven Greulich)
- "Legal M&A Advice - quo vadis?" - In the focus: market development ("Anwaltliche M&A-Beratung - quo vadis?" - Im Blickpunkt: die Marktentwicklung), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 3/2013, p. 4 et seq.
- "Illiquidity in the meaning of § 64 S. 3 GmbHG through repayment of shareholder loans" ("Herbeiführung der Zahlungsunfähigkeit i.S.d. § 64 S. 3 GmbHG durch Rückzahlungen von Gesellschafterdarlehen"), juris PraxisReport Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht 12/2012, Comment 1 (together with Dr. Sven Greulich)
- "This can become expensive: the double-hidden contribution in kind" - The resolution of the German Federal Supreme Court (BGH) of 10 July 2012 ("Das kann teuer werden: die doppelt verdeckte Sacheinlage" - Der Beschluss des BGH vom 10. Juli 2012), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 22/2012, p. 5 et seq.
- "Leaving the dirty corner" - Stock exchanges make life harder for cheaters ("Raus aus der Schmuddelecke" - Freiverkehrs-Börsenplätze machen Betrügern das Leben schwerer), Going Public Magazin 2012, Print Edition 8-9, p. 72 et seq.
- "Approval despite unlawful payment" - The BGH's decision regarding the discharge of Fresenius' Management Board and Supervisory Board ("Entlastung trotz rechtswidriger Zahlung" - Das BGH-Urteil zur Entlastung von Fresenius-Vorstand und -Aufsichtsrat), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 15/2012, p. 4 et seq.
- "2011 turns to 2012" The Government draft bill regarding the amendment of the stock corporation law ("Aus 2011 wird 2012" - Der Regierungsentwurf zur Aktienrechtsnovelle), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 2/2012, p. 3 et seq.
- "From 95% down to 90% - Squeeze-out simplified by modified transformation regime" ("Von 95 auf 90% - Änderung des Umwandlungsrechts erleichtert Squeeze-out"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 13/2011, p. 5 et seq.
- "Unconstitutional expropriation or admissible rescue - District Court Munich I decides on HRE-Squeeze-Out" ("Verfassungswidrige Enteignung oder zulässige Rettung - LG München I entscheidet über HRE-Squeeze-Out), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 5/2011, p. 7 et seq.
- "Arbitral Expert Clauses, Arbitration Clauses and Mediation Agreements" ("Schiedsgutachtenklauseln, Schiedsvereinbarungen und Mediationsabreden") in: Rotthege/Wassermann (Hrsg.) Unternehmenskauf bei der GmbH, 2010, (together with Professor Siegfried H. Elsing)
- "Consumer protection for conglomerates? Substantive control of M&A agreements and plant construction contracts under General Terms and Conditions law" ("Verbraucherschutz für Großkonzerne? - Inhaltskontrolle von M&A-Verträgen und Anlagenbauverträgen anhand von AGB-Recht"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel, Print Edition 2010, p. 46 et seq.
- "The right timing - Calculation of compensation after Squeeze Out is changing - Disadvantages for minority shareholders" ("Der richtige Zeitpunkt - Abfindungsberechnung nach Squeeze-Out ändert sich - Nachteile für Kleinaktionäre"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 16/2010, p. 3 et seq.
- "Evergreen in GmbH law: Current questions in connection with share redemptions" ("Evergreen im GmbH Recht - Im Blickpunkt: aktuelle Fragen der Anteilseinziehung"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 9/2010, p. 6 et seq.
- "Purchase price adjustment in M&A transactions - typical provisions and implications" ("Kaufpreisanpassung in M&A-Transaktionen - Gestaltungsvarianten in der Praxis"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 3/2010, p. 11 et seq.
- "Compensation clauses for leaving shareholders - current legal framework and consequences of the abolition of the so-called 'Stuttgarter Verfahren'" ("Gesellschaftsrechtliche Abfindungsklauseln - Aktuelle Rechtslage und Auswirkungen der Abschaffung des 'Stuttgarter Verfahrens'"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel, Print-Edition 2009/2010, p. 40 et seq.
- "Legal certainty in connection with GmbH cash pools - implications of the MoMiG reform" ("Rechtssicherheit beim Cashpooling im GmbH-Konzern - Auswirkungen der MoMIG-Reformen"), Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel 4/2009, p. 3 et seq.
- "Access to the German Market is Opened - The Investment Act of January 1, 2004 Enables Private Investors to Invest in Hedge Funds" ("Das Tor zum deutschen Markt ist offen - Das seit dem 1. January 2004 geltende Investmentgesetz ermöglicht auch privaten Geldanlegern die Anlage in Hedge Fonds") Fonds Magazine, January 30, 2004.
- "Hedge-Fund-Investments from a Foundation Law Point of View" ("Hedge-Fund-Investments aus stiftungsrechtlicher Sicht"), Absolut-Report Nr. 11/12, 2002, 46-51.
- "Purchase of Bonds - No Time Bargain" ("Erwerb von Aktienanleihen - Kein Börsentermingeschäft", Anmerkung zum Urteil des BGH vom 12. März 2002), DB 2002, 888.
- "Hedge Funds: The Continuing Tax Risk" ("Hedge Fonds: Und ewig droht die Steuer"), Financial Times Deutschland, March 13, 2002.

Dr. Wilhelm Nolting-Hauff

Wilhelm Nolting-Hauff primarily advises on company acquisitions and sales, leveraged buy-outs, joint ventures and strategic partnerships as well as on general corporate law issues.

Engagements

Insights

Edition 2021: Employment Law in Germany – Practical Bilingual Guidelines for Chinese Businesses and Investors

Chinese Investments in Germany in Times of Corona and Thereafter

Events

Thought Leadership: Secret Weapons of Communication

Thought Leadership 2017: Das Leben als Bühne – Die Führungskraft aus der Perspektive des Regisseurs

News

Digital Waste Management Solutions: c-trace Majority Stake Sold to TOMRA

Orrick represents AEONMED in successful action against ministerial prohibition to acquire Heyer