Ashurst advised certain funds managed by Arcmont Asset Management Limited (Arcmont) and Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank eG (apoBank) as lenders on the financing of the investment in Smile Eyes Group (Smile Eyes). The investment is structured as a partnership between Trilantic Europe, the two co-founders of Smile Eyes, Dr Martin Bechmann and Dr Rainer Wiltfang, and the management team. Arcmont acted as senior lender and apoBank as super senior lender.
Smile Eyes is a leading player in the German ophthalmology market with headquarters in Munich. The company stands for eye laser and lens surgery at the highest medical level and has a comprehensive service offering in the field of ophthalmology in various metropolitan regions in Germany.
Arcmont is a market-leading asset manager, providing flexible capital solutions to a wide range of businesses in Europe. Established in 2011 and previously part of BlueBay Asset Management, Arcmont is now an independent asset management firm managing approximately €17 billion of assets for institutional investors globally. Ashurst advises Arcmont and apoBank regularly in connection with the financing of leveraged buyouts.
Trilantic Europe is a pan-European private equity firm focusing on mid-market transactions in Europe. Trilantic’s sectors of focus are healthcare, consumer & leisure, industrials, TMT, and business services.
The Ashurst team advising Arcmont was led by partner Anne Grewlich and counsel Sabrina Bremer. They were assisted by counsel Gabrielle Metherall, senior associate Emilie Veyran-Müller, senior transaction manager Carina Gläßl (all Global Loans) and transaction lawyer Isabelle Renninger (Banking & Finance, all Frankfurt).
The Ashurst team advising apoBank was led by partner Dr Matthias Weissinger (Banking & Finance, Munich).
Ashurst's German banking and finance practice advises both banks and alternative lenders, private equity investors and companies on domestic and cross-border acquisition, real estate, asset and infrastructure / project finance as well as on financial restructuring and corporate lending.
