Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised Energy Exemplar, a portfolio company of Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners, on its acquisition of SIMONE Research Group s.r.o. (“SIMONE Research Group”) and LIWACOM Informationstechnik GmbH (“LIWACOM Informationstechnik”), the joint developers of the SIMONE software platform and among the world’s leading providers of simulation and optimisation solutions for gas transmission and distribution networks.
The SIMONE software platform is used by more than 100 network operators across 50 countries and enables the simulation, monitoring and optimisation of gas infrastructure. In addition to natural gas, the platform supports the modelling of hydrogen, biomethane and CO₂ networks.
Energy Exemplar is a global provider of software solutions for the modelling, analysis and optimisation of energy systems. Its products include the PLEXOS®, Aurora and Adapt2 platforms.
Prague-based SIMONE Research Group develops the SIMONE software platform for the simulation and optimisation of gas transmission and distribution networks.
Based in Essen, Germany, LIWACOM Informationstechnik is a long-standing technology partner of SIMONE Research Group and contributes to the ongoing development of the SIMONE platform. It has expertise in real-time applications, SCADA integration, and gas quality and billing systems.
The multi-disciplinary WFW Germany team advising Energy Exemplar was jointly led by Munich Corporate Partners Dr Dirk Janssen and Dr Christian Bauer, working closely with Senior Associates Christian Schulten-Baumer and Felix Wörner and Associate Philipp Vogl as well as New York Counsel Todd Johnson. Hamburg Partner Dr Christine Bader advised on regulatory matters. Munich Partner Dr Andreas Wiegreffe, Managing Associate Liv-Loreen Perkhoff Theurer and Transaction Lawyer Christoph Konrad advised on the employment law aspects of the transaction, whilst Frankfurt Counsel Manuel Rustler and Associates Dr Alexander Brune and Finn Ortmeier provided tax advice. Real estate expertise was provided by Hamburg Counsel Tatjana Giutronich and Associate Tetiana Arkhipova.
Dirk commented: “We are pleased to have advised Energy Exemplar on this strategically important transaction. Their acquisition of SIMONE Research Group and LIWACOM Informationstechnik strengthens Energy Exemplar’s position in the energy modelling sector whilst expanding its capabilities in gas infrastructure. The transaction underlines the growing importance of digital solutions in the transformation and optimisation of energy infrastructure”.
