Noerr advises VR Equitypartner on Sale of Groneweg Group to Thrive Foods

A Noerr team led by Dr Martin Neuhaus advised investment company VR Equitypartner on the divestment of its participation in Groneweg Group to Thrive Foods based in Utah, USA.

Groneweg Group is a leading global specialist in high-quality freeze and air-dried herbs, vegetables and fruits. Groneweg Group is present in Europe, North America, Latin America and China and covers the entire value chain, from the high-quality raw materials secured in contract farming, through preparation, drying and further processing, to the sale of the finished products. The transaction with Thrive Foods will create a strong and competitive player in food freeze-drying – from fruits, vegetables and spices to pet treats and probiotics.

Thrive Foods is a portfolio company of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners, Chicago, USA and Mubadala Capital, the asset management subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, a leading global sovereign investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

With this transaction, Thrive Foods will become the sole shareholder of Groneweg Group. The transaction is still subject to customary closing conditions including merger control approvals.

VR Equitypartner is one of the leading equity financiers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and supports medium-sized family businesses in the strategic solution of complex financing issues. The portfolio currently comprises around 60 commitments. VR Equitypartner regularly relies on the advice by Noerr teams led by Dr Martin Neuhaus.

Advisors to VR Equitypartner: NOERR

Lead: Dr Martin Neuhaus (Corporate/M&A, Duesseldorf)

Corporate/M&A: Gerrit Henze (Associated Partner), Florian Döpking (Associated Partner), Hannah Besting (Senior Associate), Dr Philipp Buchs (Senior Associate), Claudia Rinkens (Associate), Tina Neugebauer (Associate, all Duesseldorf), Selina Brose (Associate, Frankfurt),

Antitrust: Dr Jens Peter Schmidt (Partner), Dr Fabian Hübener (Associated Partner, both Brussels)

Capital Markets: Dr Dominik Kloka (Associated Partner), Dr Thomas Thies (Senior Associate, both Frankfurt)

Corporate & Financial Litigation: Dr Christian Dolff (Associated Partner), Simon Binn (Senior Associate, both Duesseldorf)

Data Protection: Pascal Schumacher (Associated Partner), Henrike von dem Berge (Senior Associate, both Berlin)

Digital Business: Dr Felix Muhl (Partner, Hamburg), Dr Torsten Kraul (Partner, Berlin), Dr Jasmin Schulzweida (Senior Associate, Hamburg), Dr Niklas Maamar (Associate, Berlin)

Employment: Dr Patrick Mückl (Partner, Duesseldorf), Dr Hendrik Bier (Senior Associate, Frankfurt), Dr Paul Tophof (Senior Associate, Duesseldorf)

Finance: Aleksandra Vujinović (Senior Associate, Frankfurt)

IP: Dr Christoph Rieken (Partner), Katja Steinthaler (Senior Associate, beide München)

Real Estate: Dr Gregor Barbers (Partner), Fabienne Wendik (Associate, both Duesseldorf)

Regulatory: Carsten Bringmann (Associated Partner), Ines Mittermeier (Senior Associate, both Duesseldorf)

Tax: Dr Florian-Felix Marquardt (Associated Partner, Berlin)