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Carlsquare advised the digital tech-news platform t3n.de on their sale to the Heise Group

Heise Medien GmbH & Co. KG has acquired 100 percent of the shares in yeebase media GmbH (“t3n”). t3n becomes part of the Heise Group, which already includes successful and well-known media brands such as heise online, c’t or iX.

One of the most successful German media start-ups is thus taking the next step in its development 15 years after its foundation and at the end of the best year in the company’s history in economic terms. Both sides speak of an ideal constellation and underline both the continuation of the independence and the importance for the Hanover location.

“t3n is our ideal partner. Andreas Lenz, Jan Christe and I have known and appreciated each other for a very long time. Our relationship is characterised by mutual respect for our brands, and it goes far beyond business cooperation,” emphasises Ansgar Heise, Managing Partner of the Heise Group. “With the takeover, both t3n and Heise Medien will remain independent companies with their own brand presences; there will also be no changes to the location, staff and management of t3n.”

The previous t3n shareholders had prepared the move thoroughly over the past months. In addition to internal further development, which included the reorganisation of the management and the installation of a management board, the shareholders Andreas Lenz, Jan Christe and Björn Assmann, who passed away a few weeks ago, had spoken with a whole series of top-class potential partners.

The founders and shareholders see the decision to sell to Heise as a desired outcome. Andreas Lenz, co-founder and ex-CEO t3n/yeebase media GmbH: “For a good 15 years in a row, t3n has grown below the radar of larger media. In the future, t3n will continue to retain the character of a self-confident indie brand. We look forward to even more support for the t3n mission in solidarity with the Heise Group as well as the self-sufficient continuation of t3n’s path from publishing house to platform for digital pioneers.”

t3n managing director, Jörg Mugke forms the t3n management together with Tobias Schäffer. He sees the takeover by the Heise Group as the best prerequisite for “continuing t3n’s success story with even more vigour”.

For editor-in-chief Holger Schellkopf, t3n is “one of the very few real love brands in the German media landscape and an editorial voice that is heard in the industry and beyond.” As part of the Heise Group, t3n can play its role as the leading medium of the digital economy even better, he said. “t3n continues to have enormous development potential,” Schellkopf is convinced.

Andreas Lenz commented: “Carlsquare guided us through the M&A process with prudence and empathy. We are very happy with the outcome and can recommend Carlsquare as the ideal M&A partner for all digital pioneers.”

Carlsquare acted as the exclusive financial advisor to t3n.

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t3n.de
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Heise Group