Global law firm Reed Smith has comprehensively advised United Chocolate GmbH, an investment company of DPK Deutsche Privatkapital, on the structuring of the business succession of Argenta Group.
Related Professionals: Thomas P. Gierath Rita Novak Maximilian Santüns Maria Ottermann Ulrike Elisabeth Bischof Anselm Reinertshofer Philipp J. Bergmann Sebastian Braun Helge Aulmann Christoph Mikyska Viktoria Ritter
The German private equity investor DPK invests together with European family offices and long-term operating institutional investors in medium-sized enterprises of various industries. The closed transaction is the first step of a planned buy-and-built strategy in the European confectionary products market.
The “Argenta Schokoladenmanufaktur” Weißenfels, was established in 1935 out of the Burgmühlen Schokoladenfabrik Wernigerode, which belonged to the Rudolph Karstadt AG and the Westdeutsche Kaufhof AG. The traditional company has production facilities in Germany and Poland.
Led by Thomas Gierath, the Reed Smith team advised on all legal aspects of this transaction including corporate, labour and IP law and coordinated the collaboration with legal advisors in Poland. Reed Smith partner Thomas Gierath maintains longstanding contact with DPK and was able to win the mandate for Reed Smith.
Advisors DPK:
Reed Smith: Thomas Gierath (lead, M&A, SPA), Rita Novak and Maximilian Santüns (both Corporate/M&A), Maria Otterman (Litigation), Urike Bischof (labour law), Dr. Anselm Reinertshofer und Philipp Bergmann (both Finance), Sebastian Braun (Real Estate), Helge Aulmann (antitrust), Dr. Christoph Mikyska (IP) and Viktoria Ritter (tax).
Other advisors:
Clifford Chance: Barbara Mayer-Trautmann (Finance)
Flick Gocke Schaumburg: Christian Schatz (Investor relationship)
Magnusson: Michal Siwek (Poland)
Rödl & Partner: Jochen Reis (Finanzen), Florian Kaiser (Tax)
Godler: Alexander Rosenberg (Environment, employment security)
MRH Trowe: Thomas Holle (Insurance)
Maconda: Rainer Mayer (Market)
Advisor Argenta Group:
Law firm Jens Reißig
