Hogan Lovells advises Fressnapf on the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Italian Arcaplanet Group from Cinven and the acquisition of a shareholding in Fressnapf Group by Cinven

Fressnapf is the leading European retailer of pet supplies. Since the opening of the first Fressnapf store in Erkelenz (North Rhine-Westphalia) in 1990, founder Torsten Toeller has remained the owner and will continue to be the majority shareholder of Fressnapf Group. Fressnapf is headquartered in Krefeld with additional offices in Venlo (Netherlands) and in the national subsidiaries. Fressnapf currently operates in 14 countries and, together with Arcaplanet Group, runs over 2,600 stores.  

In 2021/2022, Fressnapf, – advised by Hogan Lovells – together with the international private equity firm Cinven, acquired Arcaplanet Group, a pet supplies retail chain headquartered in Italy, from funds advised by Permira and Winch Capital Partners. As part of such transaction, Fressnapf contributed its subsidiary Maxi Zoo Italia to the strategic partnership with Cinven, thus creating one of the leading platforms for pet supplies in Italy. With the transaction just signed Fressnapf has acquired from Cinven its majority shareholding in Arcaplanet Group as a result of which Fressnapf will become sole shareholder of Arcaplanet Group. At the same time, Cinven has acquired a shareholding in Fressnapf Group. Following such transaction Fressnapf will be owned by its majority shareholder Torsten Toeller and Cinven.

The transaction documents were signed on 28 June 2024. The transaction is still subject to approval by the relevant authorities. 

Hogan Lovells has provided comprehensive advice to Fressnapf on all legal aspects of this complex transaction. Dusseldorf-based law firm Hermanns Wagner Brück, which specializes in antitrust law, has provided advice on merger control and other regulatory issues relating to the transaction. The firm has worked in close cooperation with law firm SSP-Law, which provides ongoing advice to Fressnapf Group on corporate law matters.

Hogan Lovells team for Fressnapf

Partners: Dr Franz-Josef Schöne (lead partner, Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf), Luca Picone (Corporate/M&A, Milan), Jens Uhlendorf (Corporate/M&A Dusseldorf), Dr Tobias Kahnert, (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Dr Mathias Schönhaus, (Tax, Dusseldorf);

Counsel/Of Counsel: Dr Sabine Ernst (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf), Dr Christoph Louven (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf); 

Senior Associates: Merlin Laufenburg (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf), Isabel Stellmann (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg), Martino Filippi (Corporate/M&A, Milan); 

Associates: Niclas Schneider-Höhle (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf) Varinia Binn (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf), Vincent Ziller (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Hannah Wohlfahrth (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Eva Campione (Corporate/M&A, Rome), Guiseppe Angio (Corporate/M&A, Milan).

Hermanns Wagner Brück: Corinna Neunzig (Antitrust, Dusseldorf).

SSP-Law: Dr Michael Schmidt-Versteyl (Corporate/M&A, Dusseldorf).