13. October 2014

ARQIS advised Katjes International GmbH & Co. KG (Katjes International) on the acquisition of the Piasten GmbH & Co. KG (Piasten).

The transaction was executed via a wholly owned subsidiary of Katjes International, Katjes 23 GmbH. It was completed with immediate effect as per 29 September 2014.

The confectionary producer Piasten with business seat in Forchheim, near Nuremberg, generated a net turnover of 91.6 Million Euro in its last financial year (30 June 2014). Roughly half of the turnover was made with chocolate-coated dragées and the products under the brand name “Big Ben”. Piasten employs around 395 employees.

As all Katjes International participations, Piasten will remain a legally and organizational independent entity. The management will stay with the business for at least another five years.

ARQIS has advised Katjes companies for many years, lastly in conjunction with the German sage sweets producer Dallmann and the acquisition of the French Lutti. ARQIS-Partner Dr Jörn-Christian Schulze states: “We are proud that Katjes has entrusted us again with such an important strategic investment.”

Advisor Katjes International

ARQIS Rechtsanwälte (Dusseldorf): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (lead), Dr Mirjam Boche, Johannes Landry (all corporate/M&A), Dr Andrea Panzer-Heemeier (employment), Dr Ulrich Lienhard (real estate); Associates: Franziska Korn, Patrick Schöldgen, Andrea Schlote (all corporate/M&A), Dr Sebastian Schröder, Eva Trost (both employment)