Competition in the taxi business: Mitsui enters CleverShuttle

Mitsui is one of the largest and most prominent global trading and investment companies. Founded in Japan in 1947, the Group maintains a unique, unobstructed view of international markets through its worldwide network spanning across 66 countries, with a diversified business portfolio stretching across six key sectors. Working in partnership with many of the world's most prominent private companies, Mitsui's outstanding long-term performance is founded on its core business areas of Energy and Resources, Machinery & Infrastructure, and Chemicals. These strong and expanding legacy businesses provide a stable platform across bold and increasingly innovative areas of Mobility, Healthcare, Nutrition & Agriculture, and Retail & Services.
The Berlin startup CleverShuttle offers a ride pooling service, a kind of collective taxicab that uses an algorithm to connect passengers with a similar destination via app. In 2018, Deutsche Bahn acquired a majority stake in the startup. Business with "Ride Pooling" is growing in Germany, also using electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft, led by the Cologne M&A/Venture Capital team around Philipp Dietz and Fabian Mimberg, advised Mitsui on legal and tax aspects of the investment. The parties have agreed not to reveal the amount of the investment.

For Mitsui & Co., Ltd.:

Luther, Corporate / M&A: Philipp Dietz (Partner, lead), Fabian Mimberg (Senior Associate)
Luther, Employment: Stefanie Prehm (Partner), Maurice Straub (Senior Associate)
Luther, Energy: Dr Holger Stappert (Partner), Benjamin Schwenker (Senior Associate)
Luther, IP: Dr Detlef Mäder (Partner), Dr Katharina Preuss (Senior Associate)
Luther, IT/Data Protection: Dr Michael Rath (Partner), Daniel Lehmann (Associate)
Luther, Antitrust Law: Dr Holger Stappert (Partner), Franz-Rudolf Groß (Counsel)
Luther, Insurance Law: Dr Alexander Mönnig (Counsel)
Luther, Tax: Nicole Fröhlich (Partner), Ramona Hubracht (Senior Associate)