Rymarz Zdort advises Maspex Group on its acquisition of 100% of the shares in CEDC International

Rymarz Zdort advised Maspex Group (“Maspex“, the “Group“) in connection with the execution of an agreement with Roust Corporation (“Roust“) regarding the purchase from Roust  of 100% of the shares in Roust’s subsidiary, CEDC International, which represents the interests of the Roust group in Poland.

Upon the completion of the transaction, Maspex will become the largest Polish food group with a turnover exceeding PLN 11 billion and the leader on the vodka market in Poland, expanding its portfolio with the following brands: Żubrówka, Soplica, Absolwent and Bols. This is the twentieth acquisition in the history of the Group and its ninth (and the largest in terms of value) in Poland.

The closing of the transaction is subject to the issuance of concentration clearance by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in Poland.

Maspex is the largest private Polish company in the food industry and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. It is the undisputed leader on the market of juices, nectars and beverages in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, and is considered a leading producer of such products in Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia. In addition, it is a leading producer of instant products in Central and Eastern Europe. Maspex is also a leader on the market of pasta, jams and sauces and a leading producer in the segment of ketchups, ready meals and vegetable preserves in Poland. The company is also a leading player in the Romanian water market.

CEDC is a leader on the vodka market, with a share of over 47% (by volume), and the largest importer of foreign alcoholic beverages in Poland. It is also a distributor of, among others, Carlo Rossi, Barefoot and Gancia wines, as well as the coloured spirits Grant’s, Glenfiddich, Tullamore D.E.W., Metaxa, Jȁgermeister, Cointreau, Campari, Aperol and Remy Martin. Production is carried out at production plants in Oborniki and Białystok.

The transaction was handled by Paweł Rymarz, a managing partner. The transaction team included partner Monika Kierepa, partner Zofia Frydrychowicz, partner Iwona Her and senior associate Aleksandra Kabać.