The international law firm Addleshaw Goddard has advised global Spectris group, operating in more than 30 countries in the fields of precision instrumentation and controls, on the acquisition of all shares in the German company IMTEC GmbH through its German group subsidiary VI-grade.

The Seller was the founder of IMTEC who after the acquisition remains the managing director of the company. 

Established in 2003 near Berlin, IMTEC has grown steadily and profitably by providing innovative automation technology and simulators to key transportation OEMs and industrial groups to reduce time-to-market for new products, while lowering risk and cost. With this new addition, VI-grade augments its R&D team, enhances its manufacturing and production capabilities, and expands its global distribution and maintenance operation. 

VI-grade is a leading provider of real-time simulation software and driver-in-the-loop simulators. Spectris is headquartered in Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom; the Company employs approximately 9,000 people located in more than 30 countries.

IMTEC has been a key partner and supplier to VI-grade for many years and this move represents an excellent opportunity for VI-grade to combine forces to create a powerhouse in the vehicle simulator marketplace. The acquisition also comprised the business premises of IMTEC.

Advisers Spectris/VI-grade

Addleshaw Goddard (Hamburg): Dr. Hubertus Schröder (Corporate/M&A), Helge Heinrich (Antitrust), Dr. Jan-Oliver Schrotz (Regulatory), Jens Peters (Labour Law), Dr. Staffan Wegdell und Carolyn Krampitz (both Commercial); Associates: Dr. Natalia Ilyevich (Corporate/M&A), Yves Alexander Wolff (IP/Commercial), Dr. Eva Lotte Stöckel (Finance/Real Estate); Jemma Clarke (Corporate/M&A), Tim Carter (IP/Commercial) (both Manchester). 

Arcadis – Purchaser's advisor on environmental issues.

Advisor IMTEC

FPS Fritze Wicke Seelig (Frankfurt) – Philipp Weber (Corporate/M&A, leadership), Kevin Brühl (Corporate/Financing), Dietrich Sammer (Real Estate), Dr. Marco Wenderoth (Labour Law), John Büttner (Tax) as Seller's legal advisor.