Noerr advises Gubor on merger with Colian Group and €100,000,000 revolving credit facility agreement

The Noerr M&A and Corporate Finance Team led by Alexander Hirsch and Alexander Schilling has advised Gubor Schokoladen GmbH on its merger with the Polish Colian Group and the simultaneous conclusion of a new syndicated revolving credit facility agreement with a multi-year term. The M&A and Corporate Finance Team provided comprehensive advice on the merger and all aspects of the credit financing and the existing factoring arrangements.

The merger of the two family-run company groups is based on an equal partnership. United by shared values and closely aligned corporate cultures, Colian and Gubor are well positioned to collaborate effectively and build a stronger, more competitive organisation. The combined group will offer an expanded product portfolio and greater agility to respond to changing consumer and industry needs, consolidating its position as a dominant player in the international confectionery market.

The merged company will employ approximately 4,200 people at 12 locations in Germany, Poland and Ireland and achieve a production volume of more than 85,000 tonnes of confectionery. The Gubor Group offers a diverse range of products under five proprietary brands and is one of the leading confectionery manufacturers, employing approximately 1,700 employees at five production sites in Germany and one plant in Poland.

At the same time as negotiating the merger, the Gubor Group successfully concluded a new syndicated revolving credit facility agreement. This new syndicated financing refinances Gubor’s existing syndicated credit facility and was arranged by Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale – also acting as the agent for both existing and new lenders. The new credit facility has a multi-year term, thus providing the Gubor Group with long-term financing security.

 

Noerr has been advising the Gubor Group extensively on corporate finance for years. The successful completion of this complex transaction was made possible by the seamless collaboration between Noerr’s equity and debt teams.

Advisors to Gubor Schokoladen GmbH: Noerr

Lead: Alexander Hirsch (partner, M&A. Düsseldorf) and Alexander Schilling (partner, Banking & Finance, Frankfurt).

Gerrit Henze (associated partner, M&A, Düsseldorf), Patrick Geist (associated partner), Kevin Brühl (senior associate), Jonas Strubel (associate) and Maria Bozhenova (foreign associate, all Banking & Finance, Frankfurt), Martin Dopychai (senior associate), Tina Neugebauer (senior associate, both M&A, Düsseldorf)

Antitrust & Competition: Alexander Birnstiel (Partner), Jochen Hegener (senior associate), Paula Link (associate, all Munich)

Advisors Poland: Crido (Pawel Hoc and Pawel Samolewicz)