Cologne-based WE22 AG, developer of software for the creation, maintenance and hosting of websites, has been acquired by Europe's largest cloud and hosting provider 1&1 IONOS, a company of the United Internet Group.

Orth Kluth Rechtsanwälte advised the founders of WE22 AG, Robert Schovenberg and Cornel Schnietz, throughout the entire sales process. The transaction has already been completed.

WE22 was founded in 1999 by Robert Schovenberg and Cornel Schnietz as Content Management AG and currently employs more than 140 people in Cologne, Berlin and Erfurt. WE22 AG is best known for its homepage construction kit CM4all, which is used to create and operate more than 5 million websites. Furthermore, services for small businesses for website creation and online marketing are offered under the brand Web4Business in Germany.

With the acquisition of WE22 AG, 1&1 IONOS is strengthening its service offering in the hosting business. In future, the management of WE22 will control the further development of the company as a wholly owned subsidiary of 1&1 IONOS.

Advising lawyers: Boris Körner (Corporate/M&A) - lead; Dr. Guido Matthey, (Executive Board Issues, Employment Law) and Dr. Lars Maritzen LL.B MLE (Antitrust Law)