Bird & Bird advises the founders of shopware AG on the investment by The Carlyle Group and PayPal
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Bird & Bird LLP has advised the founders of Schöppingen-based shopware AG ("Shopware"), Stefan Hamann and Sebastian Hamann, on the investment by US private equity firm The Carlyle Group and global online payment service provider PayPal. Founders Sebastian and Stefan Hamann will continue to hold a significant majority in the company after the transaction and remain co-CEOs.
Payment service provider Paypal and private equity firm Carlyle are investing together $100 million in Shopware. With the capital, Shopware, which has so far only grown on its own, wants to compete with industry giants such as SAP or Salesforce with a new technical platform.
Shopware is a leading digital commerce system and is used by some of the largest brands, retailers and manufacturers in the B2C, D2C and B2B industries, including Philips, Jägermeister and Aston Martin. As a pioneering open commerce platform, Shopware gives users the freedom to unleash growth potential quickly and easily - with more flexibility and less complexity. In 2021, customers relying on a Shopware solution generated a Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of nearly $20 billion.
Headquartered in Schöppingen, Shopware employs 350 people and also relies on a global network of 1,200 sales, technology and solution partners. A community with hundreds of thousands of members also provides customers with access to over 4,000 enhancements to date, as well as extensive support. Through high investments in research and development, Shopware occupies a leading position as an innovation driver in digital commerce.
With PayPal and the Carlyle Group, two leading NASDAQ-listed US companies are taking a stake in Shopware. The participation and investment by PayPal and Carlyle provide Shopware, among other things, with the necessary financial resources for the expansion into additional markets. Carlyle's expertise in software and digital commerce as well as its international network will support Shopware's long-term ambitions. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
The following Bird & Bird lawyers were involved in advising Shopware: Partner Dr. Kai Kerger (lead), associates Johanna Schindler and Tamara Böhmert (all Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), partner Dr. Niels Lutzhöft, LL.M. and associate Dr. Simon Hembt (both Commercial/Regulatory, Frankfurt), partner Dr. Barbara Geck and associate Carina Seum (all Employment, Frankfurt), partner Dr. Michael Jünemann and associate Julia Fröhder (both Finance & Financial Regulation, Frankfurt).