Luther advises on the sale of QSIL GmbH Quarzschmelze Ilmenau to SCHOTT AG

Luther is facilitating new growth opportunities for the German semiconductor industry by supporting the integration of QSIL GmbH Quarzschmelze Ilmenau into the global SCHOTT network. A team from Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH led by Denis Ullrich (Partner) provided comprehensive advice to QSIL SE on the sale of QSIL GmbH Quarzschmelze Ilmenau, a manufacturer of quartz glass for, among other things, the semiconductor industry. The Luther experts prepared the legal due diligence and supported the sales process, including the drafting of the purchase agreement and negotiations.

With the increasing demand for microchips for artificial intelligence and digitalisation, the demand for quartz glass is also growing. This material enables semiconductor manufacturers to achieve higher yields and more powerful products. With the acquisition of QSIL GmbH Quarzschmelze Ilmenau, SCHOTT is expanding its own range and can offer customers even more solutions made of quartz glass and other technical glasses for semiconductor manufacturing.

QSIL GmbH Quarzschmelze Ilmenau has a state-of-the-art production facility in Ilmenau, Thuringia, unique technological expertise and a dedicated workforce of around 275 employees who have been crucial to the company's success. Capacities have been significantly expanded in the last two years and the course has been set for further growth in the years to come.

The transaction is expected to close at the beginning of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

About QSIL SE

QSIL is a leading international specialist in high-melting and high-temperature resistant high-performance materials – including high-purity quartz and special glass, sophisticated engineering ceramics and extremely resistant refractory metals.

Thanks to its extensive materials and technology expertise, the group is able to offer its customers the complete range of high-performance materials for critical solutions in the semiconductor, medical technology, aerospace, mechanical engineering, glass fibre and special light source industries. With over 900 employees at eight production sites in and outside Germany, QSIL most recently generated annual sales of around 200 million euros. The dynamically growing company is active in more than 50 countries. Its customers include major companies from Europe, Asia and America.

About SCHOTT

The international technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and high-performance materials such as special glass, glass-ceramics and polymers. Whether as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world's largest telescopes or laser glass in nuclear fusion: many SCHOTT products are used in high-tech applications that push today's technological boundaries. Pioneering spirit makes the approximately 17,100 employees in over 30 countries expert partners for numerous industries, such as healthcare, household appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In the 2024 fiscal year, SCHOTT generated revenues of 2.8 billion euros. In addition to innovation, sustainability is an important corporate goal: the company aims to make its production climate-neutral by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses the dividend to promote science. For more information, visit www.schott.com

For QSIL SE

Corporate/M&A: Denis Ullrich (Partner, Federführung), Dr. Björn Simon (Partner), Jan-Christian Schmid (Senior Associate), Dr. Johannes Becker (Counsel), Dr. Sven C. Stumm, MJur (Counsel), Jacqueline Dutz (Associate), Paul Jakob Kurz (Associate), Felix Imelmann (Associate)

Tax: Dr. Bela Jansen (Partner), Nicole Fröhlich (Partnerin)

IP/IT: Johannes Klausch (Partner)

Labour Law: Daniel Zintl (Partner), Dr. Delia Jusciak (Associate)

Competition Law: Dr. Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Partner), Alexandra Gebauer (Associate)