Global law firm Freshfields advised Fressnapf Holding SE on its successful bank and bond financing transaction, in connection with Fressnapf’s acquisition of Agrifarma SpA (trading as Arcaplanet) from Cinven and Cinven’s minority investment in Fressnapf. The Financing consists of €800m senior notes due 2031 and an €300m revolving credit facility (RCF).

The Fressnapf Group is the European market leader for pet supplies and opened the first ’Fressnapf’ specialist store in 1990 in Erkelenz (NRW). The company is headquartered in Krefeld, with additional offices in Venlo (NL) and in the national companies. It operates in key European markets. Today, approximately 2.000 Fressnapf and Maxi Zoo stores with employees from over 50 nations belong to the group of companies. In Germany, the majority of the stores are operated by independent franchise partners, in other European countries as own stores.

Freshfields advised Fressnapf on all legal aspects, including English, German and New York law elements. Freshfields also advised Cinven on its investment in Fressnapf.

The Freshfields team also worked closely with Fressnapf’s treasury team around Katja Bruns and Holger Winterfeld as well as its legal team around Frank Hartmann.

The Freshfields team included the following:

Bond Financing: Partners Simone Bono (London), Christoph L. Gleske (Frankfurt), Haden Henderson (London), Principal Associate Daniel von Bülow (Frankfurt), Senior Associate Shruti Dusaj (London), Associates Ahmed Yacout Saleh, Enzo Paganetti and Angela Chen (all London). Additional support was provided by Principal Associate Birgit Schulz (Frankfurt), Associates John Sichelschmidt and Linus Cathomas (both Frankfurt).

Bank Financing: Partners Mario Hüther, Michael Josenhans (both Frankfurt), Toby Bingley, Christopher Davis (both London), Associates Lucas Lengersdorf (New York/Frankfurt), Kelsey Pepper (London), Alexander Bräuer (Frankfurt) and Peter Benson (London)

Tax: Partner Martin Schiessl, Principal Associates Christian Schmidt and Sebastian Jung (all Frankfurt)