VR Equitypartner acquires Karl Kemper Group

Harriet Bailey
15 July 2014

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VR Equitypartner, the private equity subsidiary of DZ Bank and WGZ Bank, has acquired a majority stake in frozen convenience food business Karl Kemper Group.

VR invested together with private investor Harald Sipple and German Opportunity.

Earlier this year VR purchased a minority stake in Eichkamp, a Garrel-based provider of premium convenience products for the fresh and frozen food markets. VR intends to unite the two companies under the banner of newly founded European Convenience Food, which will have a combined turnover of €65m.

The existing management teams from both companies will become responsible for the new trading unit.

VR stated it will look to acquire further businesses offering similar products.

VR invests in medium-sized family-owned businesses that have a minimum turnover of €20m. It has made around 100 investments totalling €570m, taking both majority and minority stakes. VR was formed after a merger of DZ Equity Partner and WGZ Initiativkapital in August 2012.

Company
Founded in 1975, Karl Kemper supplies frozen convenience food products, in particular vegetarian meals, to cafeterias and hotels. It sells its meals via cash-and-carry firms and has a turnover of approximately €30m. Headquartered in Borken, Karl Kemper has 170 employees.

People
Martin Völker is managing director of VR.

Adviser
Equity – WGZ Bank (Corporate finance); CMS Hasche Sigle; Katja Pohl, Hendrik Schäfer, Matthias Heilmeier, Stefan Lehr, Tobias Polloczek, Christian Zwarg, Beate Engin, Dirk Smielick, Roman Gaitszsch, Johanna Hofmann (Legal).