Milbank LLP advised EQT IX on the voluntary public takeover offer for zooplus, the leading online pet platform in Europe measured by sales. The offer will be made in connection with an investment agreement concluded between Pet Bidco, a holding company of EQT IX, and zooplus. The offer price of €470 per zooplus share in cash values the company at approximately €3.4 billion.
Founded as a German start-up in 1999, zooplus caters to more than eight million pet parents across Europe, with sales totalling more than €1.8 billion in the 2020 financial year. The company’s product range includes renowned international brands and popular local brand names, as well as high-quality, exclusive own brand lines for pet food, accessories, care products, toys and other pet products.
The Milbank team advising EQT IX on the transaction is led by Steffen Oppenländer and Christoph Rothenfußer (both Corporate/M&A, Munich) and includes Norbert Rieger (Corporate M&A, Munich), Alexander Rinne (Antitrust and Foreign Investment, Munich), Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax, Munich), Apostolos Gkoutzinis (Capital Markets, London), Sebastian Reiner-Pechtl, Pascal Härdtner, Maximilian Pechtl, Manuel Bogenreuther, Svenja Tauchmann (all Corporate/M&A, Munich) as well as Nils Bremer, Stefanie Gschossmann and Alexander Zyrewitz (all Antitrust and Foreign Investment, Munich).
