DLA Piper advises shareholders of software company riskmethods on sale to Sphera

DLA Piper has advised the shareholders of riskmethods GmbH, a leading provider of AI - powered supply chain risk management software, on the sale to Sphera. Sphera, a portfolio company of Blackstone, is a leading global provider of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data and consulting services. The sellers advised by DLA Piper included growth capital and venture capital funds managed by Digital+ Partners, Senovo, EQT Ventures, Bayern Kapital and Point Nine as well as the founders and business angels.

Founded in 2013, riskmethods’ software as a service (SaaS) solution harnesses cutting-edge artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning to protect its customers’ supply chain networks. Its software platform collects supplier data and real-time information, distinguishes critical signals from “noise” and provides users with detailed status of suppliers, so they can prevent business disruption risk before it materializes. The company is based in Munich and has more than 200 employees across four offices worldwide serving more than 225 enterprise customers.

Sphera is a leading provider of ESG performance and risk management software, data and consulting services focusing on environment, health, safety & sustainability, operational risk management and product stewardship. For more than 30 years, the company has served over 6,700 customers and a million-plus users in 80 countries. As part of Sphera’s product portfolio, riskmethods will enhance the company’s risk management offering and will be able to grow their customer base across the globe.

The DLA Piper team was led by partner Simon Vogel (Corporate/Private Equity, Munich) and also included partners Semin O (Antitrust), counsel Tatiana Marzoli (Private Equity/M&A), Dr Raimund Behnes (Tax), Miray Kavruk (IPT, all Frankfurt), Dr Thilo Streit (Public Commercial Law, Cologne), senior foreign associate Aleksandra Lis-Rychlinska (Corporate/Private Equity, Munich), senior associates Philipp Meyer (Private Equity/M&A), Patrick Reuter (Finance, both Frankfurt), associates Oliver Schmidt, Lennart Benjamin Spiller and Fiona Toni (all Corporate/Private Equity, Munich).