Otto von Gruben advises German and international clients on complex cross-border M&A, private equity real estate, and asset-heavy infrastructure transactions.

Drawing on a sophisticated understanding of transactions involving real assets, Otto advises private equity real estate and infrastructure funds, strategic investors, and sovereign wealth funds on:

  • Preferred and structured equity transactions
  • Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
  • Joint ventures 
  • Distressed transactions

He combines a results-driven sensibility and deep relationships with key market players to complete both German and cross-border deals efficiently. He frequently navigates clients’ most intricate transactions involving novel structures and complex international considerations across a broad range of industries, with a particular focus on the real estate and asset heavy infrastructure sectors.

A recognized leader within the firm, Otto currently serves as the Hamburg Office Liaison Partner. He is also the German member of the Finance Committee and previously served on the Recruiting Committee.

Otto’s experience includes advising:

Infrastructure

  • Apollo on the £4.5 billion debt financing for Électricité de France
  • Funds managed by Apollo on acquiring and financing STACK Infrastructure’s European colocation business
  • Digital Realty on:
    • A US$7 billion joint venture with Blackstone to develop hyperscale data centers
    • Selling data centers in Germany and the US
    • Its US$8.4 billion acquisition of Interxion, creating a leading global provider of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions
  • First Sentier Investors on selling Ferngas Group to VKB
  • GIP and KKR on the strategic partnership with Vodafone to invest in Vantage Towers
  • Mainova WebHouse on the joint venture with Tishman Speyer
  • NorthC on acquiring and financing six data centers in Germany and the Netherlands
  • OIC on investing up to €65 million in CargoBeamer
  • Silver Lake on its equity investment in Vantage Data Centers
  • TOTAL on selling its shares in the joint venture Großtanklager-Ölhafen Rostock to EUROPORTS

M&A Transactions

  • Demant on:
    • Acquiring OHRWERK Group
    • Its agreement to aquire KIND Group
  • The joint venture of Körber and KKR on the acquisition of MercuryGate 
  • Amphenol on the US$1.7 billion acquisition of MTS Systems
  • Keysight on acquiring MICRAM Microelectronic GmbH
  • Ardian/Swissbit on acquiring Hyperstone
  • Aliaxis on selling:
    • Its ceramics business
    • Rheinhütte Pumps to ITT
  • Bregal on acquiring a majority stake in ACTICO
  • A consortium of Astorg Asset Management, Nordic Capital, and Novo Holdings and its portfolio company eResearchTechnologies on a merger with Bioclinica, a Cinven portfolio company and a leader in clinical imaging
  • Deutsche Pentosin-Werke GmbH on its sale to Fuchs Petrolub SE
  • EMZ Partners on acquiring a significant minority participation in celebrate company
  • Froneri on selling its frozen food business Findus
  • Juno Therapeutics on its cross-border acquisition of Stage Cell Therapeutics GmbH
  • The founders of KMK Kinderzimmer Group on selling the majority shareholding to Franz Haniel & Cie
  • Knecht & Co. GmbH on acquiring and restructuring Hülsta Group
  • Körber on selling a minority stake in its supply chain software business to KKR
  • Metz-Werke’s insolvency administrator on selling Metz-Werke out of insolvency 
  • Partners Group on acquiring a majority stake in Cloudflight
  • Prime Capital AG's founder and sole shareholder on selling a majority stake to top management
  • RENA GmbH on its debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings, with a focus on developing an insolvency plan option and a dual track
  • Rhön-Klinikum on its €3.07 billion sale of major assets (including 40 hospitals) to Dax-listed Fresenius SE 
  • Senator Group, a Germany-based operator of retirement and nursing homes, on its sale to Alloheim Senioren-Residenzen
  • SERgroup on selling a majority stake to The Carlyle Group 
  • Shareholders of Prüftechnik Dieter Busch AG on their sale to Fluke Corporation 
  • Sparkasse Frankfurt, Sparkasse KölnBonn, and Sparkasse Düsseldorf on selling Corpus Sireo to Swiss Life
  • Summit Partners on selling RadioOnkologieNetzwerk (RON) to Medipass
  • Swiss Life Asset Management AG and Gelsenwasser AG on acquiring Infrareal
  • ZF Friedrichshafen on selling its global Body Control Systems business to Luxshare

Real Estate

  • ACCENTRO Real Estate on the comprehensive refinancing of two bonds in a procedure under the German Bond Act (Schuldverschreibungsgesetz)
  • Apollo on its:
    • €1 billion investment in Deutsche Wohnen SE
    • €1 billion investment in the Northern Portfolio, a residential real estate portfolio controlled by Vonovia
    • €1 billion investment in the Suedewo Portfolio, a residential real estate portfolio controlled by Vonovia
  • Ares Management on selling One Goetheplaza to IVG
  • Azure Hotels on acquisitions and disposals of several hotels of the Azure Group, including Radisson Blu Hotel in Hamburg-Dammtor, Indigo Hotels Hardenbergstraße, and Alexanderplatz in Berlin 
  • Corpus Sireo on selling:
    • A residential real estate portfolio to DWS Real Estate (formerly Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management, RREEF) 
    • The project development Allianz Campus in Berlin 
  • DWS Real Estate on several real estate transactions 
  • Ludger Inholte Projektentwicklung (LIP) and ABG Real Estate on selling the project development at Humboldthafen in Berlin by way of a forward-share deal to Zurich
  • A Middle East sovereign wealth fund on several real estate M&A transactions, including
    • Acquiring an interest in two holding companies sponsored by a joint venture
    • Investing in a major European retail real estate company
  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund on acquiring and financing several large real estate portfolios and shopping centers, including the Christie portfolio and the Rhein Ruhr shopping center 
  • OneIM and OCP on the acquisition of Adler Group’s €422.5 million “Cosmopolitan” portfolio, located in North Rhine-Westphalia 
  • Peugeot Invest on a minority shareholding of 5% in SIGNA Development Selection AG
  • Proprium Capital Partners on joint venture, property, and asset management agreements, as well as the acquisition financing of two large residential portfolios in Germany
  • Redos Real Estate on various acquisitions and disposals, including portfolio transactions
  • Simon® on the strategic partnership with Jamestown

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • LLM, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2011
  • Second German State Exam, Higher Regional Court, Celle, 2010
  • First German State Exam, University of Muenster, 2008

Languages Spoken

  • German
  • English