GÖRG advised Netfonds AG (‘Netfonds’) on its planned merger with the blau direkt Group under the umbrella of the funds by growth investor Warburg Pincus. Warburg Pincus made a public offer to acquire all shares in Netfonds.

The Netfonds Group is a leading platform for administration, advisory and regulatory services for the German financial industry. Under the brand finfire, the company provides its clients and partners with a cloud-based technology platform for the complete processing and administration of business transactions.

blau direkt is one of the leading technology providers for the independent brokerage of insurance and financial investments. The Lübeck-based company has specialised in digitalisation and process optimisation for more than 25 years.

The merger will create a leading provider of software and infrastructure services for the finance and insurance industry with over 600 employees and revenues exceeding 500 million euros. The partnership aims to unlock significant growth potential. While Netfonds contributes in-depth expertise in the investment sector, regulatory affairs and the 360-degree platform approach (finfire), blau direkt contributes leading automation experience in the insurance sector.

As a complementary sister company within the group, Netfonds will retain its brand, its Hamburg location and its corporate culture. The management of Netfonds will participate in the joint holding company. blau direkt will also continue to operate independently.

Warburg Pincus and Netfonds have signed an investment agreement for the planned merger, and Warburg Pincus has submitted a public purchase offer to all Netfonds shareholders. The aim is a full delisting of the company. Warburg Pincus has already secured an irrevocable stake of around 53 % in Netfonds.

The six-week acceptance period begins with the announcement on 9 March 2026 and ends at the end of 20 April 2026. The completion is subject to regulatory approvals.

A GÖRG team led by Hamburg partner Prof Dr Stephan R. Göthel provided legal advice to Netfonds AG throughout the entire process. The advice focused in particular on the negotiation and structuring of the investment agreement with Warburg Pincus and on providing corporate and capital market law support for the public takeover bid.

Advisors Netfonds AG

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB
Prof Dr Stephan R. Göthel, LL.M. (Cornell) (Lead, Partner, Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets Law, Hamburg)
Tobias Reichenberger (Counsel, Corporate, Capital Markets Law, Munich)