Baker Tilly advises Shang Gong Group on the acquisition of the assets of Flight Design

Frankfurt am Main, March 26, 2025 – The international advisory firm Baker Tilly has provided comprehensive legal, tax and business advice to Shang Gong Group Co. Ltd (SGG) on the acquisition of the assets of the aircraft manufacturer Flight Design general aviation GmbH, based in Eisenach, Germany.

During the transaction, a subsidiary of the listed, globally active industrial company based in Shanghai acquired the business operations of Flight Design including its foreign subsidiaries.

The transaction was supported by an interdisciplinary Baker Tilly team from Germany and the Czech Republic. In addition to the lead lawyers and partners Stephan Zuber (Corporate/M&A) and Yan Zhang (Partner, Corporate/China Desk), the lawyers Christian Engelhardt (Partner, IP/IT), Florian Bandrack (Partner, Insolvency Law and Restructuring), Marco Stahn (Director, Labor Law), Daniela Stephan and Till Werner (both Senior Managers, both Corporate/M&A) as well as Peter Reiß and Zhuo Lan (both Managers, both Corporate/Commercial) were involved in the legal department. In the Czech Republic, Vladimira Glatzova and Anna Neumannova advised on the transaction.

Tax advice was provided by Uwe Roth (Partner) and Stefan Lehner (Director) as well as in the Czech Republic by Jan Soska, David Brunner, and Jan Zeman. Sebastian Hafner (Partner) and Anna Wuschik (Junior Manager) advised on financial matters.

“We congratulate Shang Gong Group on this acquisition and would like to thank them for the trust they have placed in us. Thanks for the good cooperation, especially to the entire Shang Gong team around Yongwu Chen,” says Baker Tilly partner Stephan Zuber.

The transaction has set the course for a future-proof realignment of Flight Design. The company had filed for insolvency in December 2024 due to outstanding customer claims. A structured investor process was then carried out. Within just three months and two weeks, a viable solution was found that both secures the survival of the company and satisfies the creditors in the best possible way.

About Shang Gong Group

Shang Gong Group is a listed company based in Shanghai and specializes in the development, production, and sales of systems for material joining processing. Its portfolio includes sewing, embroidery, cutting and ultrasonic welding technology, components for vehicle interiors and exteriors as well as lightweight sports aircraft made of carbon fiber composites. With over ten production sites in China, Europe, and the USA and more than 30 sales offices worldwide, the Shang Gong Group unites strong brands such as Mauser, KSL, Butterfly, Shang Gong and ICON under one roof.

About Flight Design general aviation GmbH

Flight Design general aviation GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers of light aircraft and is known for innovative designs and high-performance aircraft. As an EASA-certified development and production company, the aircraft manufacturer operates at the Eisenach site and, via subsidiaries, Sumperk (CZ) and Kherson (UA). After a production-related break caused by the shutdown in Ukraine, where up to 600 employees were most recently working, the company has now successfully relocated its production to the Czech Republic and has a high order backlog.