23. October 2019

ARQIS has advised VR Equitypartner on the acquisition of a minority stake in Signet Wohnmöbel. The investment company VR Equitypartner and a fund managed by it each acquire equal shares of the investment. The remaining shares were acquired by the industry expert and future CEO of Signet Wohnmöbel, Thomas Schlosser. The transaction is expected to be completed by January 2020.

Based in Hochstadt am Main, Signet has been developing and producing individual functional furniture for almost 30 years. Raw materials from regional, controlled stocks are used, and the furniture is processed free of harmful substances exclusively in Germany in accordance with the strict quality guidelines of the German Furniture Quality Association (awarded the “Golden M” quality mark). The original two-man business has meanwhile developed into a medium-sized family business with around 70 employees and a product range covering seating, lying, sleeping, living and object furniture. Signet is one of the leading German suppliers of high-quality sofa beds.

VR Equitypartner is one of the leading equity financers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company accompanies medium-sized family businesses in a target-oriented manner and with decades of experience in the strategic solution of complex financing issues. Investment reasons are growth financing and expansion financing, company succession or shareholder changes. VR Equitypartner offers majority and minority shareholdings as well as mezzanine financing. As a subsidiary of DZ BANK, the central institution of cooperative banks in Germany, VR Equitypartner consistently puts the sustainability of corporate development before short-term exit thinking. VR Equitypartner’s portfolio currently comprises around 100 commitments with an investment volume of EUR 500 million.

ARQIS appeared for VR Equitypartner for the first time. The mandate goes back to the lead partner Dr. Lars Laeger. In 2016, he advised the seller on the sale of a minority stake in Grundig Business Systems to VR Equitypartner.

Advisors to VR Equitypartner
ARQIS Rechtsanwälte (Dusseldorf/Munich): Dr. Lars Laeger (Lead, Corporate/M&A), Christian Wegener (Tax Law), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP/Compliance), Dr. Stephanie Lenze (Labour Law); Associates: Thomas Chwalek (Corporate/M&A), Jennifer Huschauer (Real Estate), Dr. Liliia Sagun (Legal Support Specialist)