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Dr Nicolaus Ascherfeld

Partner

Nicolaus heads the German Corporate / M&A practice and has more than 20 years of experience in advising on a broad range of corporate transactions with a focus on private M&A and joint ventures.
Nicolaus is an expert in the infrastructure, energy and transport sector. Nicolaus is acknowledged by independent publications as one of the leading M&A lawyers and one of the leading experts for energy infrastructure transactions in Germany.

Experience

Representative matters

Iberdrola on the sale of interests in two offshore wind projects in Germany (Wikinger in 2022 and Baltic Eagle in 2023) including the relevant project agreements and shareholders agreements.
 
Patrizia Infrastructure regarding rollout of EV charging stations throughout Germany in cooperation with Numbat.

Norges Bank Investment Management on the acquisition of a (significant) minority stake in a 600MW portfolio of utility-scale solar PV assets in Germany from EnBW.
 
Fortescue on the acquisition of a 30% stake in the LNG Terminal Wilhelmshaven, the world’s largest integrated hydrogen project.
 
Uniper on the sale of a 20% stake in OPAL Pipeline (aborted).
 
Uniper on the sale of its gas fired power plant in Hungary to Veolia.
 
Windward a joint investment platform for investment and management of offshore wind service vessels (CSOVs) of Diana Shipping, Searenergy, Blue Star Group and several financial investors.
 
A major French energy company on general law advice regarding German solar framework conditions and an extensive solar feasibility study on solar investments.
 
An oil major on several large scale investments in the German oil refinery industry over more than a decade.

Equitix on its acquisition of a portfolio of PFI/PPP and renewables assets (solar and onshore wind) owned by NIBC in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
 
A group of financial institutions on the acquisition of a 49.9% stake in the planned 960 MW offshore wind farm "He Dreiht" from EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG.
 
DEME Group on the EUR 1.6bn acquisition, construction and financing of the Merkur offshore wind farm.
 
Alliance between MSC and Hamburg regarding Hamburg port: parties entering into a long-term strategic partnership in the context of a public takeover offer regarding Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA) which will be managed as a strategic joint venture in the future.
 
DigitalBridge Group together with Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners on an agreement to acquire a 51% ownership stake in GD Towers.

A global pharmaceutical and healthcare company on the sale of its men’s health product Nebido™ (testosterone undecanoate) to Grünenthal for a purchase price totaling up to EUR 500 million.
 
A global pharmaceutical and healthcare company on the disposal of its global seed coating business via asset deal to Solvay, including carve outs in several jurisdictions.
 
VTG Tanktainer on the sale of its overseas activities to Suttons Group.
 
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) on the acquisition of a 50% stake in German offshore windfarm Borkum Riffgrund 2 owned by a 50/50 JV of the seller Global Infrastructure Partners and the remaining stakeholder a renewable energy company (broken deal).
 
Engie on the acquisition of the public transport system electrification specialist Powerlines Group via Engie Ineo, its electrical engineering, information and communications systems services subsidiary.
 
GeoSea on the acquisition of the entire offshore business from Hochtief AG, including heavy lift jack up vessels and related financing.
 
Royal FrieslandCampina regarding the disposal of its Russian operations to Ehrman Group.
 
Royal FrieslandCampina regarding the disposal of its German operations, including the plants in Cologne and Heilbronn and the “Landliebe” Brand to Müller Group.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, German-American Lawyers' Association
Recognition
One out of ten leading German M&A advisors
LEGAL 500 2024 (M&A)
One of the market leading advisors for Energy / Infrastructure - M&A
JUVE Rechtsmarkt 01/2024

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as German Rechtsanwalt, 2001

Academic

Second German Law Degree, Kammergericht Berlin, 2000

First German Law Degree, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, 1997

Legal Studies in Heidelberg

Languages

English, German
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.