CERHA HEMPEL successfully advised its long-standing client Rentokil Initial GmbH on its acquisition of all shares in Smart Hygiene GmbH. After several months of preparations, negotiations and receipt of regulatory clearance, this transaction was closed in March 2026. Along the way to closing of this deal, CERHA HEMPEL’s team smoothly, skillfully and with great professionalism handled the various challenges arising from dealing with 3 different sellers with conflicting interests and from a pre-closing corporate reorganization of the target’s group.
Rentokil Initial GmbH belongs to Rentokil Initial plc, a global leader in pest control and hygiene services. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer service, the Austrian Rentokil Initial GmbH helps organizations maintain safe, clean, and compliant environments. It combines global expertise with local knowledge, operating nationwide through specialized teams and service locations.
Smart Hygiene GmbH is a well-known provider of pest control and building protection services and serves private and business customers for already more than 20 years. Following the acquisition of Smart Hygiene, customers of Rentokil Initial Austria now have access to an expanded team of highly experienced specialists, a more extensive service network, and a joint, expanded range of building protection services.
The team of CERHA HEMPEL was led by the partners Johannes Aehrenthal and Jakob Hartig (both corporate/M&A) and further consisted of Bogdan Capra (senior associate, corporate/M&A), Thomas Stedronsky, Thomas Schmid (all corporate/M&A), Christopher Peitsch (partner, employment), Nina Neumaier (associate, employment), Michael Mayer (counsel, antitrust) and Heinrich Depauly (associate, antitrust).
Hohenberg Rechtsanwälte (Peter Buchbauer, Clemens Treiber) acted as legal counsel to the Sellers.