The Quality Group sells majority stake to CVC Capital Fund VIII
Elmshorn — The shareholders and founders of The Quality Group GmbH (“TQG”), based in Elmshorn near Hamburg, are selling their shares to CVC Fund VIII, which is managed by CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”). All existing shareholders participate indirectly in the company as future minority shareholders. Menold Bezler advised The Quality Group GmbH on this transaction.
TQG is a specialist in sports nutrition such as protein powders, dietary supplements and low-sugar foods and was formed at the end of 2020 by the merger of several companies, mainly known for the brands “ESN” and “MORE NUTRITION”. TQG employs a total of around 360 people. Distribution is largely online via the company’s own store, social media and partnerships with influencers, as well as food retailers. The shareholders Benjamin Burkhardt and Christian Wolf will remain operationally active in the company.
CVC is a leading private equity firm and has been active in the German market for more than 30 years. Together with the founders, CVC intends to continue TQG’s growth path via the expansion of logistics, an expanded product portfolio and the international CVC network.
A Menold Bezler team led by Vladimir Cutura advised the shareholders of TQG on all legal aspects of the transaction. The firm already advised TQG in December 2020 on the merger of the companies behind “ESN” and “MORE NUTRITION” and on the subsequent acquisition of GOT 7 Nutrition GmbH & Co KG.
Advisors to The Quality Group GmbH: Menold Bezler (Stuttgart)
Vladimir Cutura (Partner, Lead), Thomas Futterer, Nicole Brandt, LL.M, Dr. Karsten Gschwandtner (Partner), Jens Schmelt (Partner), Hansjörg Frenz, LL.M. (Partner), Dr. Jan Nehring-Köppl (all Corporate/M&A), Dr. Julia Schneider (Partner), Markus Kleinn (both IP), Dr. Jochen Bernhard (Partner), Eliana Koch-Heintzeler, Daniel Klass (all Antitrust), Dr. Aris Joannidis (Partner), Dr. Monika König (Partner), Dr. Carolin Reichert (Partner), Dr. Markus Augenschein, Isabelle Hörner, Janina Dinkelaker (all Commercial), Dr. Frieder Werner (Partner), Alexandra Heidelberger (both Labor Law), Marc Ehrmann, LL.M. (Partner), Elisa Dyballa (both Real Estate Law), Steffen Follner (Partner, Banking & Financing), Dr. Carsten Ulbricht (Partner), Varinia Iber, Carolin Nemec (all IT Law), Nico Haldy (Partner), Clemens Mauch, Sarah Roßmann (all Tax), Jan Schmeisky (Partner, Auditing)
Advisor CVC: Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Lead partners Georg Linde and Dr. Matthias Schudlo; partners Patrick Meiisel, Sebastian FitzGerald, Dr. Jasmin Dettmar; counsel Timothy Sawyer; and associates Philipp Oehlerking, Sebastian Brenner and Xianrui Wang.
About Menold Bezler
Menold Bezler is a partnership-structured commercial law firm based in Stuttgart. More than 120 professionals offer legal advice, tax advice, auditing and business management advice from a single source. Our clients include well-known medium-sized companies, listed corporations, the public sector and its companies as well as non-profit organizations. More at www.menoldbezler.de.
About CVC
CVC is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm with a network of 25 offices throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. and approximately €123 billion of assets under management.