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CERHA HEMPEL advises Worldline and its subsidiary SIX Payment Services on the contribution of its Merchant Services Business in Austria to PAYONE

CERHA HEMPEL Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised SIX Payment Services (Europe) SA and Worldline SA (a leading payment and transaction services provider in Europe) in connection with the contribution of its Merchant Services business in Austria to PAYONE following the successful tender offer of Worldline SA on Ingenico Group SA’s shares and convertible bonds (closed on October 28, 2020).

CERHA HEMPEL Rechtsanwälte GmbH advised SIX Payment Services (Europe) SA and Worldline SA (a leading payment and transaction services provider in Europe) in connection with the contribution of its Merchant Services business in Austria to PAYONE following the successful tender offer of Worldline SA on Ingenico Group SA’s shares and convertible bonds (closed on October 28, 2020).

Worldline (SIX Payment Services) and Ingenico (PAYONE) are leading payment services providers in Europe. SIX Payment Services (Europe) SA is a Luxembourg subsidiary of Worldline SA. PAYONE is a German joint venture between Ingenico and Deutscher Sparkassen. Following the take-over of Ingenico by Worldline, the German and Austrian business of Worldline (carried out by SIX Payment Services and PaySquare) were transferred to PAYONE. Closing took place on 1 March 2021.

The CERHA HEMPEL team led by Dr. Benjamin Twardosz, LL.M., advised on Austrian aspects of this transfer, which included corporate, regulatory, tax and employment aspects. Benjamin Twardosz: “The transaction once again shows the importance of integrated tax and legal advice and the capability of working in large teams throughout Europe.”

In addition to Dr. Benjamin Twardosz (Partner, Tax), the CERHA HEMPEL team consisted of Lorenz Pracht (Partner, Corporate and M&A), Dr. Harald Stingl (Partner, Corporate and M&A), Dr. Andrea Harrich (Senior Associate, Banking Regulatory), Christopher Peitsch (Senior Associate, Employment), Dr. Bernhard Oreschnik, LL.M. (Senior Associate, Tax), Julia Digruber (Associate, Corporate and M&A) and Lukas Krenn (Associate, Tax).

Linklaters acted as legal advisor in Germany and Luxembourg.

Worldline Group was also assisted by Charles-Henri de Taffin (Group General Counsel) and Benjamin Thorez (Group Head of Governance and legal M&A). SIX Payment Services was also assisted by Evelyne Runge (Head of Legal DACH) and Alexandra Simotta (Head of Legal Austria). Payone was assisted by Eva Asch (Director Legal & Compliance).