Corporate / M&A

Capital Markets

Litigation

Competition

MCH Group

On December 22, 2020, MCH Group AG (MCH Group), a leading international live-marketing company with a comprehensive services network spanning the entire exhibition and event market, completed a recapitalization which improved its equity position by almost CHF 100 m, of which CHF 74.4 m cash proceeds out of a two-tranche capital increase and CHF 24.2 m by way of reduction of an outstanding loan from the Canton of Basel-Stadt.
The capital increases were underwritten by, among others, Lupa Systems LLC (Lupa), an independent private investment company controlled by James Murdoch as a new anchor shareholder. Following the completion of both capital increases, Lupa is expected to hold 32.32% of the shares in MCH Group, certain public sector shareholders will hold 33.34%, and the remaining public shareholders 34.34%.
In the context of the planned recapitalization, MCH Group settled all outstanding legal matters with LLB Swiss Investment AG, AMG Vermögensberatung and Erhard Lee. The shareholders affiliated with Erhard Lee have withdrawn all pending lawsuits before civil courts and supervisory authorities, and have supported the capital raise as implemented.
Homburger AG acted as legal counsel to MCH on this series of transactions and legal cases. The Homburger team was led by partners Hansjürg Appenzeller and Daniel Daeniker, and included lead associate Stefan Blunschi, associates Angela Oppliger and Anna Peter, and junior associates Daniel Madani, Cédric Berger and Oriana Schöni (all Corporate / M&amp;A, Capital Markets) as well as partner Roman Baechler and associate Simon Bachmann (both Litigation), partner Stefan Oesterhelt and associate Marc Vogelsang (both Tax), and partner Richard Stäuber (Competition).

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Employment and Executive Compensation

IP / IT

Financial Market Regulation

Credit Suisse

On August 25, 2020, Credit Suisse announced its plan to merge the business of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Neue Aargauer Bank AG (NAB), with that of Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd., NAB&#8217;s direct parent company. NAB is a universal bank in the Canton of Aargau and approximately CHF 19 bn of assets under management as well as a mortgage volume of CHF 19.1 bn (as of December 31, 2019).
The Homburger Team is led by partners Dieter Gericke (Corporate / M&amp;A) and Benjamin Leisinger (Financial Market Regulation). René Bösch (Financial Market Regulation) acted as Senior Relationship Partner. The team further comprises partners Balz Gross (Employment and Executive Compensation), Dieter Grünblatt (Tax), Luca Dal Molin (IP / IT) as well as associates Daniel Häusermann, Angela Oppliger and Francesco Bernasconi (all Corporate / M&amp;A), Pierina Janett-Seiler (Financial Market Regulation), Laetitia Fracheboud (Tax) and Simon Bachmann (Employment and Executive Compensation).

Homburger advises Credit Suisse on the envisaged merger with Neue Aargauer Bank

Restructuring / Insolvency

Financing and Investment Products

Swissport

On August 31, 2020, Swissport International AG (SPI) announced that SPI together with certain other entities of the Swissport group (Swissport) entered into a lock-up agreement for comprehensive restructuring which envisages debt-for-equity swap with approx. EUR 1.9 bn of existing debt converted into equity or extinguished and EUR 500 m in new long-term facility. Swissport also entered into binding documentation for a EUR 300 m super senior interim facility. This additional financing provides Swissport with liquidity to trade through the COVID-19 pandemic and to facilitate the restructuring process. Under the terms of the lock-up agreement, Swissport will shortly be launching an M&amp;A process to run in parallel with other restructuring steps as customary in such situations. The financial restructuring is expected to be completed in late 2020.
Swissport is world&#8217;s leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, with 64,000 employees, achieved consolidated operating revenue of EUR 3.13 bn in 2019. At the end of December 2019, Swissport was active at 300 airports in 47 countries on six continents.
Homburger advises SPI in connection with the restructuring as to Swiss law. The Homburger team is led by partners Claude Lambert (Corporate / M&amp;A) and Stefan Kramer (Financing and Investment Products; Restructuring / Insolvency) and includes senior counsels Ueli Huber (Restructuring / Insolvency) and Georg Naegeli (Litigation; Restructuring / Insolvency), associates Marco Rostetter, Daniel Kuhn, Aron Waltuch and Nina Hagmann (all Corporate / M&amp;A; Restructuring / Insolvency), Miguel Sogo (Litigation; Restructuring / Insolvency) and Simon Bachmann (Litigation) as well as junior associates Lars Göldi (Financing and Investment Products) and Vincent Croisier (Corporate / M&amp;A).

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

Simon
Bachmann

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Homburger advises Credit Suisse on the envisaged merger with Neue Aargauer Bank

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

The Impact of Third-Party Funding on Security for Costs Requests in International Arbitration Proceedings in Switzerland: Why and how third-party funding should be considered under the Swiss lex arbitri

Bundesgericht, II. zivilrechtliche Abteilung, Urteil 5A_375/2017 vom 13. Juni 2018, A. gegen B., Rechtsöffnung, Wirkung und Verjährung von Verlustscheinen, Verhältnis von SchKG zu IPRG

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Simon Bachmann

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SimonBachmann

Homburger advised MCH Group AG on a comprehensive recapitalization and settlement of outstanding legal matters

Homburger advises Credit Suisse on the envisaged merger with Neue Aargauer Bank

Homburger advises Swissport International AG on its comprehensive restructuring with creditors and shareholders including a debt-for-equity swap and a new 500 m euros long-term debt facility

The Impact of Third-Party Funding on Security for Costs Requests in International Arbitration Proceedings in Switzerland: Why and how third-party funding should be considered under the Swiss lex arbitri

Bundesgericht, II. zivilrechtliche Abteilung, Urteil 5A_375/2017 vom 13. Juni 2018, A. gegen B., Rechtsöffnung, Wirkung und Verjährung von Verlustscheinen, Verhältnis von SchKG zu IPRG

Join the Team

Simon Bachmann

Career

Languages

Bar Registration

Teams

Simon
Bachmann