20.11.2025
Luther advises on sale of SPH Sustainable Process Heat to Copeland – Transaction in the fast-growing market for industrial heat pumps
Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft successfully advised the founding shareholders and growth capital providers of SPH Sustainable Process Heat GmbH (SPH), a heat pump manufacturer based in the Rhineland, on their exit and sale to Copeland, a global leader in compression technologies and control solutions that operates in the industrial space through its Vilter product brand.
SPH is a technology company founded and based in Germany in 2020 that specialises in the development, manufacture and maintenance of heat pumps for industrial steam applications. SPH was founded with the idea of converting industrial waste heat into high-quality process heat in order to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the production process. Within five years, this vision was transformed into an innovative and market-ready product.
Luther's M&A team, led by Dr Guido Hoffmann and Dr Cédric Müller, advised the sellers on all legal aspects of the transaction, contract negotiations and final documentation. The transaction was preceded by a financing round, for which Luther also provided comprehensive legal advice.
"We truly appreciated Robert Schindler's role in the project," said Marcin Czernik, representing the selling shareholders.
About SPH
SPH, based in Overath, North Rhine-Westphalia, supports customers with sustainable, heat pump-based steam solutions that meet a wide range of requirements in terms of temperature, capacity and refrigerant. The company specialises in the development, manufacture and maintenance of heat pumps for industrial steam applications for temperatures of up to 180 degrees Celsius.
About Copeland
Copeland is a global leader in sustainable heating, cooling, cold chain and industrial solutions, providing mission-critical compression technologies and control solutions for a broad range of commercial, industrial, refrigeration and residential customers. The company addresses issues like climate change, growing populations, electricity demands and a complex global supply chain with innovations that advance the energy transition, accelerate the adoption of climate-friendly low-global warming potential (GWP) and natural refrigerants and safeguard the world’s most critical goods through an efficient and sustainable cold chain.
For SPH:
Luther, Corporate/M&A: Dr Guido Hoffmann, LL.M.; Dr Cédric Müller, LL.M. (both leading partners), Dr Johannes Becker (partner), Robert Schindler (counsel), Dr Sven C. Stumm MJur (counsel), Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Luther, IP/IT: Johannes Klausch, LL.M. (partner)
Luther, Tax Law: Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M. (partner)