Linklaters has advised the Munich private equity firm EMERAM Capital Partners GmbH on the acquisition of Hussel Süßwaren Fachgeschäfte GmbH, based in Hagen. The confectionery specialist is a 100% subsidiary of Douglas Holding AG. The parties signed a corresponding purchase agreement on 6 March 2014. The transaction is pending approval by antitrust authorities.

The European investor EMERAM intends to work together with Hussel’s long-serving management team to reinforce the company’s leading market position and continue to expand its market share. In order to further growth both domestically and abroad, Hussel is especially aiming to accelerate the renovation of existing stores and open up new stores. Its internet and mail order sales channels will also continue to be expanded.

To successfully meet these goals, Hussel has found a capable partner in EMERAM: the firm was founded as an independent partnership in Munich in 2012. The six founding partners’ goal is to become a leading private equity fund for small- and medium-sized businesses in the core markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The partners together possess decades of experience as investors, consultants and managers for a range of successful companies.

Germany’s largest confectionery chain, Hussel has achieved an outstanding market position with its selection of sweets: the grocery and delicatessen founded in Hagen in 1949 has today, with approximately 230 stores, become the leading confectionery specialist in Germany and Austria. Hussel is also active in online sales.

A Linklaters team led by Dr Rainer Traugott and Dr Florian Harder (both Corporate, Munich) advised on the deal. The team also included Dr Thomas Elser (Tax, Munich), Marc Trinkaus (Banking, Frankfurt), Holger Ebersberger (Corporate, Munich), Steffen Schellschmidt (Banking, Frankfurt), Thorben Eisenbeiß (Employment, Munich), Dr Ingemar Kartheuser (TMT, Frankfurt), Dr Thomas Broichhausen, Dr Niclas von Woedtke (both Corporate, Munich), Rieke Bickelmann (Tax, Munich), Martina Farkas (Corporate, Munich), Dr Olivier Gänswein (Competition/Antitrust, Düsseldorf) and Martin Mager (Tax, Munich).