13.11.2009
Wolf Theiss advises TOKHEIM on the acquisition of ROHÉ companies in five countries

WOLF THEISS has advised Tokheim Sofitam Applications SAS (Tokheim), one of the world's leading manufacturers and service providers of fuel dispensing and automation equipment, on the purchase of five subsidiaries of A. Rohé Holding Ltd (Rohé). Wolf Theiss, one of the leading law firms in CEE and SEE, managed all aspects of the acquisition in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Following the March 2009 bankruptcy of A. Rohé Holding Ltd, a petrol-station maintenance company, numerous international competitors sought to purchase Rohé's subsidiaries in 19 countries, predominantly in CEE and SEE. After several months, Tokheim succeeded in securing the most prominent subsidiaries of the Rohé Group in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Lithuania and Latvia. The remaining subsidiaries were purchased by other companies or will be liquidated.

Christian Hoenig, a partner with Wolf Theiss who was responsible for this successfully concluded transaction, said: "We supported Tokheim in the complex negotiations that lasted several months. These negotiations were delayed because Rohé's shareholders sought a compulsory settlement, which both the liquidator and the creditors' representatives favoured initially. Ultimately, we succeeded in convincing them of a sales scenario, and thus could reach our client's goal. Thanks to our approach, the creditors also received maximum financial satisfaction, given the rules of the free market."