31. August 2023

ARQIS has advised Katjes on a 50 percent stake in Schoko Winterscheidt GmbH with the JOKOLADE brand.

The well-known German show moderator and entertainer Joko Winterscheidt founded the company at the end of 2020 with the aim of improving the conditions in the production of chocolate one piece at a time. Jokolade wants to raise awareness about the abuses of modern slavery and illegal child labour. The core of the assortment consists of five types of chocolate bars whose ingredients are fair trade.

Together with the company, Katjes wants to further expand its position on the market and provide fun on the chocolate shelf. Joko Winterscheidt stands for fun and entertainment like no other in Germany, but at the same time he takes on social responsibility. Both Katjes and Joko Winterscheidt, who has been JOKOLADE’s sole shareholder up to now, have agreed to donate Katjes’ investment to the company and thus to its mission.

ARQIS regularly acts for the Katjes Group. The law firm, with a team led by ARQIS partner Jörn-Christian Schulze, has already advised the candy manufacturer several times on investments or acquisitions of various brands of confectionery.

Advisors to Katjes

ARQIS (Duesseldorf/Munich) core deal team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (lead), Laura Ally Rizzi (both Corporate/M&A), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Labour Law); Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (Labour Law); Associates: Christos Choudeloudis (Corporate/M&A), Sabine Müller (Labour Law), Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP); Trademark Professional: Carolin von Fritsch; Legal Specialist: Qing Xia; Scientific assistant: Jan Phillip Ludwig