11. January 2023

ARQIS has advised BME Group on the acquisition of Gebhardt Bauzentrum (Gebhardt). Gebhardt is a leading distributor of building materials in Northern Bavaria, headquartered in Marktheidenfeld (Germany).

Gebhardt offers a comprehensive product portfolio of building materials with a focus on structural engineering, interior finishing, roofing, as well as garden & landscaping products. The company employs a total of 292 employees. Gebhardt’s Managing Directors Bernd Ullrich and Kai Lerch will continue to lead the business.

BME is one of Europe’s leading building material distribution companies and active in the distribution of building materials in Germany under the brands BAUKING and Mahler (General Building Materials) as well as SHK Deutschland (Sanitary, Heating & Plumbing Materials). BAUKING is market leader in the north of Germany, generating revenues of more than €1.2 billion (2021) with 72 general building materials locations and 50 DIY locations (operating under the ‘hagebaumarkt’ brand).

The acquisition of Gebhardt is the 7th acquisition in Germany since BME became an independent company in 2019, and the 26th acquisition across the Group. The transaction is still subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities and is expected to complete in the first half of 2023. Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed.

The ARQIS team led by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze regularly advises the BME Group on its expansion plans.

Advisors to BME Group

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead/ M&A), Kamil Flak (internal project management), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP); Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Markworth (Labour Law); Managing Associates: Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Carolin Schlütter-Lückel (both: M&A), Dr. Maximilian Koch, Martin Weingärtner (both: Labour Law), Nora Meyer-Stratmann (IP/Commercial), Franziska Resch (Real Estate); Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Christos Choudeloudis (M&A), Daniel Schlemann (Data.Law), Jasmin Stuckenbrock (M&A), Rolf Tichy (IP); Legal Specialists: Jana Ammen, Berenike Gottwald (both: Labour Law), Hannah Potter (M&A)