6 January 2014 – A private equity fund of EQT has acquired a majority shareholding in the self-service bakery BackWerk from the two founders and managing partners. EQT is a leading private equity group with portfolio companies in northern and eastern Europe, Asia and the US. The consummation of the transaction is subject to customary approval by the relevant competition authorities.

BackWerk Group, founded in Essen (GER) in 2003, is among the largest bakery chains in Germany with total sales of EUR 162 million in 2012 and includes 300 stores and 220 franchise partners in Europe.

Walder Wyss AG has acted as legal advisor to EQT and lead counsel King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin with respect to all Swiss law related aspects of the transaction. The team included Florian Gunz Niedermann (Partner, Corporate/M&A), Maurus Winzap (Partner, Tax) and Simon Kehl (Associate, Corporate/M&A).