GLA & Co Assisted Silver Lake Acquire Majority Stake in Software AG for €2.2 Billion

GLA & Co Assisted Silver Lake Acquire Majority Stake in Software AG for €2.2 Billion

GLA & Co, a leading Middle Eastern law firm, represented Silver Lake as GCC counsel in its successful €2.2 billion acquisition of a majority stake in German software company Software AG. This acquisition solidifies Silver Lake's position in the technology sector and marks a significant development in the global business landscape.

GLA & Co worked closely with international legal experts to secure essential merger control clearance from the Kuwait Competition Protection Agency. This clearance was crucial for Silver Lake to acquire an 85.1 per cent stake in Software AG, which benefits Software AG shareholders as they receive the offer price of €32.00 per tendered share.

GLA & Co obtained merger control clearance in Kuwait within two months of submitting the economic concentration application. Julian Awwad (Legal Director) led the transaction, assisted by Asad Ahmad (Senior Associate), Fahad Al Baijan (Associate), and Khaled Al Makhezeem (Associate).

Silver Lake, the catalyst behind this acquisition, is a leading global private equity firm focused on technology and related industries. Founded in 1999, Silver Lake is one of the world's leading technology investors, headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong.

Software AG is a renowned German multinational software corporation that specialises in developing enterprise software solutions for business process management, integration, and big data analytics. Established in 1969 and with its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, Software AG has a worldwide footprint, serving over 10,000 enterprise customers in more than 70 countries. Software AG's global reach and influence have made it a major player in the European software market, ranking second in Germany and seventh in Europe.

“Regardless of where the global mergers and acquisitions are taking place, we have seen that the international community is increasingly coming to GLA & Co with respect to any MENA and GCC aspects of the deal. We have been able to earn the trust of our partners and colleagues across the world in such a short time,” Alex Saleh, Managing Partner of GLA & Co, stated.

“The firm has been actively engaged on the topic of merger control, from holding various webinars to publishing many articles, including contributing to the Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide of Merger Control for Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE,” Nader Al Awadhi, Senior Partner, added.

The successful collaboration between Silver Lake, Software AG, and GLA & Co to obtain GCC merger control clearance is a landmark development in the technology and software industry, enabling growth, innovation, and global expansion in the sector.