Lenz & Staehelin advising Carlyle in acquiring AutoForm from Astorg
Global investment firm Carlyle has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AutoForm, the global provider of engineering software for sheet metal forming simulation and Body in White (BiW) assembly simulation, primarily used in the automotive industry, from global private equity firm Astorg and other sellers.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Switzerland, AutoForm employs approximately 400 people and is present in more than 50 countries, across EMEA, Asia and the Americas.
Leveraging its significant experience in scaling technology companies and investing in assets that cater to the automotive industry, Carlyle will support AutoForm in accelerating its growth plan through the development of its existing software platform and through acquisitions, as well as investing in the company’s innovative product suite and commercial operations. Details of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, have not been disclosed.
Lenz & Staehelin is acting as legal counsel to Carlyle in this transaction with respect to Swiss law, alongside Linklaters and Latham & Watkins. The team is led by partner Andreas Rötheli (corporate/m&a, pictured) and includes partners David Ledermann (finance) and Frédéric Neukomm (tax), as well as associates Roman Graf (corporate/m&a), Sevan Antreasyan (IP), Paul Michel (employment), Clément Bouvier (finance), and Nadja Flühler (data protection), among others.
