A multidisciplinary transaction team from BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft and BDO Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft, jointly led by the Düsseldorf-based partners Thorsten Schumacher (BDO Legal) and Jan Odewald (BDO AG), provided comprehensive advice to Wassenberger WKS Druckholding GmbH on the acquisition of the Cologne-based book and offset printing company Häuser KG.
Buch- und Offsetdruckerei Häuser KG was founded in 1922 and is a full-service printing company with units in sheetfed offset, digital printing and finishing. In addition to producing a wide range of printed products and services, Häuser KG operates the online shop ‘DruckDiscount24.de’. The company currently employs 160 people at its Cologne site. The transaction is expected to be completed this month.
WKS Group is one of the leading printing and media service providers in German-speaking Europe. The portfolio of WKS Group, which includes Haberbeck Group, also acquired in 2020 with the support of BDO, comprises traditional web offset printing, sheet-fed and digital printing, finishing, logistics and a wide range of cross-media services such as marketing portals and closed shops.
BDO's transaction team provided comprehensive advice to WKS Druckholding GmbH on the implementation of a financial, tax and legal due diligence as well as on the preparation and negotiation of the transaction contracts and the financial restructuring. The Düsseldorf law firm ROCAN advised on the merger control aspects of the transaction.