Miele and Metall Zug are planning a joint venture to strengthen their medical technology and pharmaceutical divisions. In order to expand its medical technology and pharmaceutical division in the Professional business unit, Miele will be contributing its subsidiary Steelco Group to a joint venture with the Swiss industrial holding company Metall Zug AG. Metall Zug will in turn be bringing its two Belimed companies ?

Infection Control and Life Science ? to the joint venture. Steelco and Belimed both produce cleaning, disinfection and sterilization solutions for hospitals, biomedical research and pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

By combining their product and service portfolios, the two companies are aiming to become one of the most reliable, innovative, and customer-focused providers in the industry. The agreement regarding the joint venture, in which Miele is to hold a 67 % share and Metall Zug 33 %, was signed on 27 November. Closing is to take place once the necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained.

Operators of clinics and hospitals and those in charge of pharmaceutical production are facing new challenges, from increasing hygiene requirements in infection and contamination control to ensuring cost-effectiveness and dealing with the increasing shortage of staff. As a result, demand is growing around the world for technologically advanced and economically attractive equipment that meets the highest standards of hygiene. Belimed and Steelco have enjoyed an excellent reputation as providers in this field for decades ?

with products and services for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of medical equipment, laboratory supplies and solutions for the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnological applications. Furthermore, both companies share a commitment to the highest quality standards and maximum customer focus. Bär & Karrer acted as a Swiss legal and tax advisor to Miele in the implementation and planning of this transaction.

The team was being co-led by Vera Naegeli (M&A, Corporate and Commercial) and Susanne Schreiber (Tax) and included Linus Zweifel, Shu Zhang, Velibor Blagojevic and Fabian Schlegel (all M&A, Corporate and Commercial), Anke Stumm and Ariane Menzer (both Tax), Christine Schweikard (Regulatory and IP/IT), Lukas Roesler (Financing), Laura Widmer and Nicola Schön (both Employment), Rehana Harasgama (Data Protection) and Jennifer Winkler (Real Estate and Data Protection). Noerr acted as lead counsel for Miele.