FGvW advises shareholders of Euroscope on sale of shares to young entrepreneur

The shareholders of Automaten Winkels GmbH & CO. KG, Jochen Winkels and Bettina Bähr, have sold their shares in the company to a young entrepreneur backed by a search fund. The family business, which operates under the name Euroscope and is based in Wuppertal, is thus successfully settling its corporate succession. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Euroscope is Europe's largest manufacturer and operator of publicly installed telescopes and souvenir vending machines with more than 3,000 installed coin telescopes, penny presses and souvenir vending machines. The company specializes in the production and operation of souvenir medals, tokens and coin telescopes, which are part of any tourist attraction or sight.

The acquisition by the candidate of a German search fund was completed in July 2023. The young entrepreneur was supported by institutional investors and business angels. Shareholders Jochen Winkels and Dr. Bettina Bähr will remain with the company for a transitional period in order to hand over their management responsibilities to the search funds candidate.

Automaten Winkels GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1926 by Jochen Winkels' grandfather and has been managed by his family ever since. Over the past decades, the company has established more than five different locations with individual units throughout Europe.

The Euroscope shareholders received comprehensive legal advice on the complex cross-border transaction from our cross-location M&A team led by Cologne partner Christina Schröter (Corporate, M&A). She was supported by Cologne partners Arnt Göppert (Corporate, M&A), Gregor Lamla (Real Estate) and Andreas Imping (Labor Law) as well as associates Viktoria Neubert (Corporate, M&A) and Linda Bauerschmitz (Real Estate).

In addition, the law firms Stapf Neuhauser Rechtsanwälte, Vienna (Austria), Ruggle & Partner, Zurich (Switzerland), Schreckenberg, Parnière & Associés, Strasbourg (France), Relephant Legal Solutions, Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Geldards LLP, Nottingham (Great Britain) were active with regard to the cross-border issues.

Advisor to shareholders of Automaten Winkels GmbH & CO. KG:

Christina Schröter, Partner (Lead Partner, Corporate Law, M&A)
Arnt Göppert, LL.M., Partner (Corporate Law, M&A)
Gregor Lamla, Partner (Real Estate)
Andreas Imping, Partner (Labor Law, Cologne)
Viktoria Neubert, LL.M. (Amsterdam), Associate (Corporate Law, M&A)
Linda Bauerschmitz, Associate (Real Estate)

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