Baker McKenzie advises AURELIUS on the acquisition of What’s Cooking Savoury Division

Baker McKenzie advised the global investor AURELIUS on the acquisition of the What's Cooking Savoury Division from What's Cooking Group NV. The division is one of the leading suppliers of deli meats, spreads and savoury snacks in the Benelux. The transaction is expected to close during 2024 or at the latest early 2025, subject to approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities.

"We are pleased to have been able to contribute our international and local expertise as well as tailored advice on all relevant legal aspects through an integrated multi-jurisdictional team and thereby to support our client in strengthening its existing strategy and presence in the region with the acquisition of the renowned Savoury Division of What's Cooking", commented Jakub Lorys, Corporate/M&A partner in the Munich office.

The acquisition of What's Cooking Savoury Division is the latest in a series of transactions in which Baker McKenzie has advised AURELIUS. Baker McKenzie recently advised AURELIUS on the acquisition of Dayco Propulsion Solutions from Dayco Inc., the acquisition of LSG Group (LSG Sky Chefs) from Deutsche Lufthansa, the acquisition of AGFA Offset Solutions from Agfa-Gaevert, the acquisition of Footasylum from JD Sports Fashion Plc and the acquisition of Minova from Orica Limited.

AURELIUS is a globally active alternative investor, distinguished and widely recognised for its operational approach. It focuses on Private Equity, Private Debt and Real Estate. To date, AURELIUS has completed more than 300 transactions. AURELIUS has been growing significantly in recent years, particularly expanding its global footprint, and today employs more than 370 professionals in 10 offices spanning Europe and North America.

What's Cooking Savoury Division, headquartered in Lievegem, Belgium, currently employs around 1,500 persons and has an annual turnover of more than EUR 460 million. The company operates six state-of-the-art facilities serving a blue-chip customer base of major retailers, wholesalers and food service providers in the Benelux and Western Europe. In addition, the company is committed to sustainable and innovative approaches to its products and packaging, including significant growth in plant-based and vegetarian alternatives.

Baker McKenzie's Corporate/M&A practice regularly advises on domestic and international transactions. Most recently, Baker McKenzie advised UBE Corporation on its acquisition of the Urethane Systems business from LANXESS, Grundfos on the acquisition of the C&I business from Culligan, Flipp Operations on joining forces with MEDIA Central to create the world's leading provider of drive-to-store marketing, VINCI Energies on the acquisition of the Fernao Group, GNMI on agreement to acquire the Surface Solutions Business from Merck, KD Pharma Group on the acquisition of the marine lipids business of dsm-firmenich, Saab on a further investment into Helsing, Freaks 4U Gaming on a strategic acquisition by NODWIN Gaming, Trane Technologies on a strategic investment in Trailer Dynamics, EQT Life Sciences on a EUR 128 million Series B2 financing of Tubulis and Knorr-Bremse on the sale of a majority stake in Kiepe Electric.

Legal advisor to AURELIUS:

Baker McKenzie

Lead:

Jakub Lorys (partner, Munich), Dominique Maes (partner, Brussels)

Core Team:

Arne Naert (senior associate, Brussels), Inès Silvestrini (senior associate, Brussels), Anna Giulia Klaas (associate, Munich), Joost Vynckier (counsel, Brussels)

Belgium: Geert Bovy (partner, Brussels), Michael Van Acker (partner, Brussels), Anne-Sophie Corne (senior associate, Brussels), Stéphanie de Potter (senior associate, Brussels), Werner Vandenbruwaene (senior associate, Brussels), Olivier Van den broeke (senior associate, Antwerp), Brian Gielen (associate, Brussels), Anne-Marie Gülger (associate, Brussels), Petra Lasku (associate, Brussels), Emilien Lerouge (associate, Brussels), Elvis Musema (associate, Brussels), Caroline Serbanescu (associate, Brussels), Robert Unusyan (associate, Brussels), Gurkan Taskiran (associate, Brussels), Marthe Teerlynck (associate, Brussels), Maximilien T'Scharner (associate, Brussels), Jana Van de Vliet (associate, Brussels)

Netherlands: Mohammed Almarini (partner, Amsterdam), Joost Polman (partner, Amsterdam), Roderick Beudeker (legal director, Amsterdam), Cornelien Broersma (counsel, Amsterdam), Thijs Bogaers (senior associate, Amsterdam), Kathinka Driessen (senior associate, Amsterdam), Casper Henschen (associate, Amsterdam), Vera van Blerck (associate, Amsterdam), Jamila Hamelijnck (associate, Amsterdam), Fréderique Hubbelmeijer (associate, Amsterdam), Frederique Peeters (associate, Amsterdam)