Otto von Gruben advises German and international clients on complex, cross-border M&A, infrastructure, and private equity real estate transactions.

Drawing on his breadth of experience across a full spectrum of transactional matters, Otto advises strategic investors, private equity, and sovereign wealth funds on:

  • Private equity real estate transactions
  • Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) 
  • Preferred and structured equity transactions
  • Infrastructure transactions
  • Joint ventures 
  • Distressed transactions

He combines a results-driven sensibility and deep relationships with key market players to complete both German and cross-border deals efficiently. He frequently navigates clients’ most intricate transactions involving novel structures and complex international considerations across a broad range of industries, with a particular focus on the real estate, digital infrastructure (including data center), and healthcare sectors.

A recognized leader within the firm, Otto is a member of the Finance Committee for Germany and previously served on the Recruiting Committee.

Otto’s experience includes advising:

Infrastructure

  • Digital Realty on:
    • A US$7 billion joint venture with Blackstone to develop hyperscale data centers
    • Selling data centers in Germany and the US
    • Its US$8.4 billion acquisition of Interxion, creating a leading global provider of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions
  • First Sentier Investors on selling Ferngas Group to VKB
  • GIP and KKR on the strategic partnership with Vodafone to invest in Vantage Towers
  • Mainova WebHouse on the joint venture with Tishman Speyer
  • Silver Lake on its equity investment in Vantage Data Centers
  • TOTAL on selling its shares in the joint venture Großtanklager-Ölhafen Rostock to EUROPORTS

M&A Transactions

  • Joint Venture of Körber and KKR on the acquisition of MercuryGate 
  • Amphenol on the US$1.7 billion acquisition of MTS Systems
  • Keysight on acquiring MICRAM Microelectronic GmbH
  • Ardian/Swissbit on acquiring Hyperstone
  • Aliaxis on selling:
    • Its ceramics business
    • Rheinhütte Pumps to ITT
  • Bregal on acquiring a majority stake in ACTICO
  • A consortium of Astorg Asset Management, Nordic Capital, and Novo Holdings and its portfolio company eResearchTechnologies on a merger with Bioclinica, a Cinven portfolio company and a leader in clinical imaging
  • Deutsche Pentosin-Werke GmbH on its sale to Fuchs Petrolub SE
  • EMZ Partners on acquiring a significant minority participation in celebrate company
  • Froneri on selling its frozen food business Findus
  • Juno Therapeutics on its cross-border acquisition of Stage Cell Therapeutics GmbH
  • The founders of KMK Kinderzimmer Group on selling the majority shareholding to Franz Haniel & Cie
  • Knecht & Co. GmbH on acquiring and restructuring Hülsta Group
  • Körber on selling a minority stake in its supply chain software business to KKR
  • Metz-Werke’s insolvency administrator on selling Metz-Werke out of insolvency 
  • Partners Group on acquiring a majority stake in Cloudflight
  • Prime Capital AG's founder and sole shareholder on selling a majority stake to top management
  • RENA GmbH on its debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings, with a focus on developing an insolvency plan option and a dual track
  • Rhön-Klinikum on its €3.07 billion sale of major assets (including 40 hospitals) to Dax-listed Fresenius SE 
  • Senator Group, a Germany-based operator of retirement and nursing homes, on its sale to Alloheim Senioren-Residenzen
  • SERgroup on selling a majority stake to The Carlyle Group 
  • Shareholders of Prüftechnik Dieter Busch AG on their sale to Fluke Corporation 
  • Sparkasse Frankfurt, Sparkasse KölnBonn, and Sparkasse Düsseldorf on selling Corpus Sireo to Swiss Life
  • Summit Partners on selling RadioOnkologieNetzwerk (RON) to Medipass
  • Swiss Life Asset Management AG and Gelsenwasser AG on acquiring Infrareal
  • ZF Friedrichshafen on selling its global Body Control Systems business to Luxshare

Real Estate

  • ACCENTRO Real Estate on the comprehensive refinancing of two bonds in a procedure under the German Bond Act (Schuldverschreibungsgesetz)
  • Apollo on its:
    • €1 billion investment in Deutsche Wohnen SE
    • €1 billion investment in the Northern Portfolio, a residential real estate portfolio controlled by Vonovia
    • €1 billion investment in the Suedewo Portfolio, a residential real estate portfolio controlled by Vonovia
  • Ares Management on selling One Goetheplaza to IVG
  • Azure Hotels on acquisitions and disposals of several hotels of the Azure Group, including Radisson Blu Hotel in Hamburg-Dammtor, Indigo Hotels Hardenbergstraße, and Alexanderplatz in Berlin 
  • Corpus Sireo on selling:
    • A residential real estate portfolio to DWS Real Estate (formerly Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management, RREEF) 
    • The project development Allianz Campus in Berlin 
  • DWS Real Estate on several real estate transactions 
  • Ludger Inholte Projektentwicklung (LIP) and ABG Real Estate on selling the project development at Humboldthafen in Berlin by way of a forward-share deal to Zurich
  • A Middle East sovereign wealth fund on several real estate M&A transactions, including
    • Acquiring an interest in two holding companies sponsored by a joint venture
    • Investing in a major European retail real estate company
  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund on acquiring and financing several large real estate portfolios and shopping centers, including the Christie portfolio and the Rhein Ruhr shopping center 
  • Peugeot Invest on a minority shareholding of 5% in SIGNA Development Selection AG
  • Proprium Capital Partners on joint venture, property, and asset management agreements, as well as the acquisition financing of two large residential portfolios in Germany
  • Redos Real Estate on various acquisitions and disposals, including portfolio transactions
  • Simon® on the strategic partnership with Jamestown

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • LL.M., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2011
  • Second German State Exam, Higher Regional Court, Celle, 2010
  • First German State Exam, University of Muenster, 2008

Languages Spoken

  • German
  • English