Karl Kemper GmbH has been acquired by BPE Private Equity GmbH

Royal Wessanen nv has sold its subsidiary Karl Kemper GmbH to the management team and BPE Private Equity GmbH for an undisclosed consideration.

Karl Kemper produces and distributes frozen convenience meal components (meat, poultry and vegetarian) as well as snacks for the out-of-home channel. Its product range comprises more than 230 different products marketed in Germany under its own strong brands as well as private label brands. Karl Kemper achieved sales of approximately US$30 million in 2008.

The management of Karl Kemper acquired the company together with BPE Private Equity. BPE has specialized in small cap management buy-outs and buy-ins in the German mid-market for more than ten years.

Royal Wessanen is a multinational food corporation based in the Netherlands. The company specializes in producing, marketing and distributing high-quality, natural and specialty food products in North America and Europe. Royal Wessanen’s activities on the frozen food market included the German company Karl Kemper. Royal Wessanen decided to divest Karl Kemper due to a lack of synergies with the frozen snack activities of Royal Wessanen in the Benelux. Going forward, Wessanen’s frozen food activities will focus on improving its position in the Benelux market.

Oaklins' teams in Germany and the Netherlands advised the seller in this transaction.