DLA Piper advises Trajan on acquisition of Axel Semrau

DLA Piper has advised Australian medical device and analytics provider Trajan Scientific and Medical (Trajan) on the acquisition of Axel Semrau GmbH & Co KG (Axel Semrau) based in Sprockhövel, Germany, expanding Trajan's capabilities in the automation, chromatography, and software business.

Axel Semrau joins Trajan with 40 years of experience in the global biotechnology market and employs over 50 staff in Europe. The company designs, develops, and delivers laboratory automation and chromatography software and detection systems. Trajan’s automation business and Axel Semrau have already worked in close cooperation for several years and have a well-established working relationship.

Trajan's application expertise concentrates in the pharmaceutical and clinical segments, Axel Semrau dominates more in the food and environmental markets. The latest addition to the portfolio completes Trajan’s ninth acquisition to date of a private business, which also included its manufacturing and distribution facilities based in Sprockhövel, Germany.

Trajan Scientific and Medical was founded in 2011 to make a positive impact on human wellbeing closely collaborating with academia, industry and government. The company has its global headquarters in Melbourne and is also stock exchange listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with major operations in Australia, Europe, the US and Asia and now more than 520 staff worldwide.

The DLA Piper team was led by counsel Dr Isaschar Nicolaysen and partner Dr Benjamin Parameswaran. The core team further included associate Jan Schürmann (all Corporate/M&A, Hamburg) and was supported by partners Lars Reubekeul (Real Estate, Munich), Dr Henriette Norda (Employment, Hamburg), Semin O (Antitrust), Dr Burkhard Führmeyer (IP, both Frankfurt), Verena Grentzenberg (Data Protection, Hamburg), Dr Wolfram Distler (Finance, Frankfurt), Dr Thilo von Bodungen (Commercial), counsel Lukas Weidner (Real Estate, both Munich), Miray Kavruk (IP, Frankfurt), Dr Thilo Streit (Public Law, Cologne), senior associates Philipp Moser (Real Estate, Munich), Kais Torchani (Finance), associates Alexander Rösch (Public Law, both Frankfurt), David Schele (Data Protection, Hamburg), Betina Fischer (Commercial, Munich), Dr Deborah Fink (Public Law, Cologne) and transaction specialist Lisa Maria Walter (Real Estate, Munich).

In Australia, Trajan was advised by Corporate partner Chris Mitchell and associate Simon Rimmelzwaan.