Hamburg — The owner family of the Hamburg-based BORCO-Marken-Import Matthie­sen GmbH & Co. KG has sold its company, one of the largest German importers and at the same time produ­cer and marketer of spirits, to the Stock Spirits Group. Stock Spirits Group, which was acqui­red by CVC Capi­tal Part­ners in Novem­ber 2021, is one of the largest produ­cers and market­ers of alco­ho­lic bever­a­ges in Central Europe. The purchase agree­ment was signed at the begin­ning of June 2023. The acqui­si­tion is subject to appr­oval by the rele­vant anti­trust authorities.

A corre­spon­ding purchase agree­ment was signed in June 2023. The parties have agreed not to disc­lose the purchase price. It is plan­ned that all jobs approx. 140 in the company as well as the name BORCO will be preser­ved. In the past fiscal year, BORCO gene­ra­ted sales of around 140 million euros. The acqui­si­tion is subject to appr­oval by the rele­vant anti­trust authorities.

The Hamburg-based company BORCO has been family-owned since its foun­da­tion in 1948. BORCO will conti­nue its normal opera­ti­ons and the teams and cont­acts for custo­mers and busi­ness part­ners will also remain unchanged.

Stock Spirits is tradi­tio­nal Euro­pean spirits producer

Stock Spirits Group is one of the largest produ­cers and market­ers of alco­ho­lic bever­a­ges in Central Europe. Foun­ded in 1884 in Trieste, Italy, the company curr­ently has subsi­dia­ries in seven Euro­pean count­ries. Stock Spirits’ current core markets are Poland, Germany, the Czech Repu­blic, Italy, Slova­kia, and Bosnia and Herze­go­vina. Stock Spirits’ port­fo­lio includes over 70 brands, many of which hold market-leading posi­ti­ons in their respec­tive markets. The company employs appro­xi­m­ately 1,200 people and gene­ra­ted sales of appro­xi­m­ately 400 million euros (2022). In Novem­ber 2021, Stock Spirits was acqui­red by CVC Capi­tal Partners.

Jean-Chris­­to­­phe Coutures, CEO of Stock Spirits, explains, “BORCO has been a leading and respec­ted spirits produ­cer in Germany and Austria for many years. The acqui­si­tion of BORCO is of great importance for our expan­sion stra­tegy in the field of alco­ho­lic bever­a­ges in Europe. At the same time, I am convin­ced that this heralds another successful stage in BORCO’s history. We will build on our strengths: BORCO will bene­fit from better deve­lo­p­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties inclu­ding access to our port­fo­lio, and Stock Spirits will gain access to the attrac­tive German market and BORCO’s strong distri­bu­tion network for our selec­ted brands.”

Advi­sor to the Matthie­sen family of owners: Henge­ler Henge­ler Muel­ler for Mueller

M&A: Thomas Meurer (Part­ner), Dr. Katha­rina Hesse (Part­ner, both Lead), Maxi Ludwig, Susanne Marie Struth (both Asso­cia­tes, all Düsseldorf),

Tax Law: Dr. Gunther Wagner (Part­ner, Munich), Dr. Sebas­tian Hein­richs (Coun­sel, Frankfurt),

Employ­ment Law: Dr. Chris­tian Hoefs (Part­ner, Frank­furt), Vicki Treib­mann (Asso­ciate, Düssel­dorf), Mona Geimer (Asso­ciate, Frankfurt).

The family tribe Uwe Matthie­sen was advi­sed by Dr. Ulf Renzen­brink (Renzen­brink & Part­ner) and the family tribe Bernd Matthie­sen by Dr. Lorenz Holler and Dr. Tobias Polke (VOIGT WUNSCH HOLLER Part­ner­schaft von Rechtsanwälten).