Dr. Tobias Klass advises private equity funds, large and medium-sized companies and their shareholders, as well as real estate investment funds on the tax aspects of complex, often cross-border transactions.

Tobias, as a key member of a client’s deal team, navigates the increasingly complex German and international tax law issues in domestic and cross-border transactions.

He focuses on the tax-optimization of private equity and M&A transactions as well as restructurings. He also advises on tax structures for inbound real estate investments. 

Tobias is qualified as a certified tax advisor and specialist tax lawyer. He is a member of the International Fiscal Association. He is ranked among the best M&A lawyers for Germany by Handelsblatt, and noted for his ability to spot and avoid potential problems.

Tobias’ experience includes advising: 

M&A

  • Aliaxis on the sale of Rheinhütte Pumpen to ITT
  • Bayrische Versicherungskammer on the acquisition of a stake in Amprion from Evonik
  • Cheplapharm on the acquisition of the US Marketing Authorization for Pulmicort Flexhaler, a Budesonide inhalation powder for the treatment of Asthma, from AstraZeneca AB
  • Digital Transformation Capital Partners (DTCP) on the acquisition of a majority shareholding in maincubes
  • Dropbox on the acquisition of Secomba GmbH’s Boxcryptor Software
  • Heramba Electric on: 
    • Its business combination with Project Energy Reimagined Acquisition Corp.
    • The acquisition of Kiepe Electric
  • Mainova and Dussmann on the sale of Chargemaker
  • Novo Nordisk on the acquisition of Cardior Pharmaceuticals
  • Prüftechnik Dieter Busch AG on the sale of the group to Fluke Corporation
  • SERgroup on the sale of a majority stake to The Carlyle Group
  • SPIE on: 
    • The acquisition of a majority stake in ICG Group
    • The acquisition of ROBUR Industry Service Group
    • The acquisition of a majority stake in BridgingIT
    • The acquisition of Otto LSE
  • Wintershall Dea on the sale of its stake in WIGA
  • ZF Friedrichshafen on the sale of its global Body Control Systems business to Luxshare

Private Equity

  • Established. on the acquisition of Blaupunkt
  • GIP and KKR on the strategic partnership with Vodafone to invest in Vantage Towers
  • IK Investment Partners on:
    • The acquisition of the Schock Group
    • Its investment in Cinerius Financial Partners
  • Keppel Infrastructure Trust on its 45% effective stake in Enpal B.V.’s solar portfolio
  • Lindsay Goldberg on the acquisition of Bilcare Research Group
  • Rockaway Capital on the sale of Bringmeister
  • Stirling Square Capital Partners on the sale of Cartonplast to DBAG
  • The Carlyle Group on the sale of Klenk Holz AG to Binderholz

Restructuring

  • Senior lenders and the steering committee in the financial and operative restructuring of Kathrein group
  • Löwen Play on financial restructuring and recapitalization

Real Estate

  • ACCENTRO Real Estate on comprehensive refinancing with bondholders
  • AFIAA on the sale of Westfalen-Center Dortmund
  • Angelo, Gordon & Co. on various acquisitions of residential real estate portfolios
  • Apollo on the €1 billion investment in the Northern Portfolio (residential real estate portfolio controlled by Vonovia)
  • Brookfield on its preferred equity investment in a Cologne residential project
  • Digital Realty on:
    • The US$7 billion hyperscale data center development joint venture with Blackstone
    • The sale of data centers in Germany and the US
  • Corpus Sireo on the sale of Allianz Campus Berlin to Hines
  • HanseMerkur Grundvermögen on the acquisition of a real estate portfolio of 34 office and retail properties in Germany and Austria
  • Mainova on the sale of a majority stake in its data center business to Blackrock
  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund and REDOS Real Estate GmbH on the acquisition, financing, and sale of a number of real estate portfolios in Germany, including the acquisition of the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum

Bar Qualification

  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • Tax Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Hamburg, 2005
  • Second German State Exam, Higher Regional Court, Hamburg, 2002
  • Dr. jur., University of Kiel, 2000
  • MBA, University of Kiel, 1999
  • First German State Exam, University of Kiel, 1997

Languages Spoken

  • German
  • English

Industries