The law firm FTPA has assisted the GMD group in the acquisition by the German industrial holding company Mutares of Sealynx International, a major manufacturer of automotive seals, and its subsidiaries. A decisive acquisition allowing the creation and consolidation of a major player in the automotive sealing industry in Europe.
Sealynx International is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality static and dynamic automotive seals, with a turnover of more than 60 million euros and more than 700 employees with a recognized know-how. In a few years, the company has built strong business relationships with many European OEMs and now has production sites in France, Morocco and Romania as well as a joint venture in Algeria.
The combination of Sealynx International with the SFC Solutions group (Mutarès) will allow the company to position itself as a major player in automotive sealing in Europe. This acquisition allows us to serve a larger panel of customers, while offering a wide range of products. This new industrial footprint is now a key lever for the competitiveness of the combined groups.
FTPA advised the GMD group with a team led by François-Xavier Beauvisage, Counsel, and Aude Dubois, associate (M&A), Sophie Jouniaux, partner and Dylan Maupas, associate (Tax), Laure Calice, partner (Employment), Hélène Huet, Counsel and Julie Falcon de Longevialle, associate (IP).
Transaction Rothschild & Co advised GMD with a team led by Jean-Christophe Quiniou, Paul Gabalda, and Jean-Marc Gauthier.
LPA-CGR Avocats advised Mutares with a team led by Michael Samol, Partner, and including Maxime Labonne (Corporate/M&A); Prudence Cadio, Partner, Romain Viret, Counsel, and Olivia Roche (IP/IT); Sandra Hundsdörfer, partner, and Marjorie Goislard (employment law); Stephan Lesage-Mathieu, partner, and Loïc Malot-Schönfelder (commercial); Frédérique Chaillou, partner, and Thibault Julia (environment); Romain Berthon, partner, and Rim Tazi (LPA Casablanca).
Mutares’ in-house legal and tax team included Angélique Schraud (legal) and Denis Ahluwalia (tax).
About the GMD Group:
Founded in 1986 by Frenchman Alain Martineau, the GMD Group is specialized in Cutting and Stamping. In just a few years, the internal and external growth of the company’s turnover increased fivefold, allowing it to be referenced by all French car manufacturers as early as 2002. In March 2013, the group acquired Sealynx and expanded its business internationally as in 2018, the GMD group succeeded in setting up plants in Portugal, Mexico and Hungary, as well as in Morocco in 2020. Today, the company has 47 sites in 14 countries with more than 6,000 employees.
https://groupe-gmd.com/
About FTPA:
FTPA is today one of the oldest independent law firms in France and handles the strategic files of many companies that place their trust in it. Founded in 1972, FTPA has a team of 65 lawyers with complementary skills. The firm advises and assists its clients, companies and groups of companies, both listed and unlisted, in France and abroad, in all their projects, cases and complex litigation. The firm has developed a very pragmatic approach to legal issues and covers all major areas of business law and litigation.
