Dalio Partners Start a Conversation

Dalio Partners’ Services

Dalio Partners offers three services for companies expanding into DACH, each designed to connect commercial strategy with the regulatory requirements of entering and operating in the market.

The Messeturm and glass towers rising over the Messe Frankfurt trade fair grounds

Business Development

Enterprise sales in Germany can involve formal procurement, documentation and internal stakeholder requirements that US vendors may not have built into their existing sales process. Dalio Partners adapts the commercial approach to those requirements before outreach begins.

For cloud and AI vendors, one consideration can be employee co-determination. Where a German customer has a works council, Section 87 of the Works Constitution Act gives it co-determination rights over the introduction and use of technical systems intended to monitor employee behavior or performance. The Act also requires works councils to be informed and consulted about certain planned work processes involving AI. For relevant products, these requirements can affect deployment even after the commercial terms have been agreed.

What This Covers:

  • Go-to-market strategy designed specifically for Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
  • Direct outreach to distributors, customers, or channel partners, run by the Dalio Partners’ team.
  • Sales and positioning materials adapted to the target market and prepared in German where appropriate
  • Early identification of potential works-council requirements for products involving employee monitoring, performance analytics or relevant AI functionality
  • Coordination between commercial negotiations and specialist legal counsel, so contract terms and pricing move together.

See the DACH Market Entry Partnership Service

The glass and steel pavilions of the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe

Legal Counsel

Establishing operations in DACH can involve important decisions about corporate structure, tax, liability and regulatory requirements. The appropriate approach differs between Germany, Austria and Switzerland and depends on how the company plans to operate in each market.

In Germany, for example, a US company may consider establishing a German subsidiary, such as a GmbH, or operating through a German branch. A GmbH is a separate legal entity and requires minimum share capital of €25,000, with at least €12,500 generally contributed before registration. A branch does not create a separate legal entity from the US parent. The two structures can also have different tax, liability and administrative consequences, which should be assessed with qualified legal and tax advisers before a structure is selected.

What This Covers:

  • Assessment of market-entry and entity options alongside specialist legal and tax advisers
  • Coordination with local counsel on registrations, contracts and required regulatory filings
  • Monitoring of regulatory developments relevant to the company’s DACH operations
  • Commercial input on distribution, partnership and vendor agreements, coordinated with legal counsel
The glass tower of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt

M&A & Transaction Advisory

Acquisitions and investments involving German businesses can be subject to foreign-investment screening when the investor is based outside the EU or EFTA. The general screening threshold can begin at 25% of voting rights, while lower thresholds of 20% or 10% apply to specified sensitive and critical sectors.

For transactions subject to mandatory notification, foreign-investment review can affect both the transaction timetable and when the acquisition can be completed. Dalio Partners identifies potential screening issues early in the transaction process and coordinates with specialist legal counsel so regulatory review, due diligence and commercial negotiations can be planned together.

What This Covers:

  • Commercial transaction strategy and terms support for acquisitions, strategic investments and joint ventures in DACH
  • Early identification of potential German foreign-investment screening issues, with specialist legal counsel advising on formal notification and clearance requirements
  • Coordination with legal counsel, tax advisers and financial advisers throughout due diligence and transaction execution
  • Introductions to relevant investors, strategic partners and potential acquisition targets within Dalio Partners’ sector network

Ready to Talk Through Which Service Fits?

Most engagements start with one service and expand once the first phase is done. Dalio Partners can help figure out where to start.

Start a Conversation