DLA Piper advises Schulte Group on the acquisition of 50% stake in sea chefs Group

DLA Piper has advised Schulte Group on the strategic partnership with sea chefs Group, in which Schulte Group has acquired a 50% stake.

sea chefs is a leading partner to shipping companies and tour operators in the cruise industry that provides world-class hotel, catering, and crew management, on board both ocean-going and river cruise ships. The family-owned group employs more than 15,000 crew on board the vessels under sea chefs’ management and more than 200 employees ashore, in their offices in Europe.

The Schulte Group, whose main business areas are ship owning and ship management, has been successfully expanding its footprint in the cruise industry for the last decade. Schulte Group member BSM Cruise Services offers quality ship management for 15 cruise vessels. Through its global network of more than 30 offices in major shipping locations, the Schulte Group employs over 20,000 seafarers and 3,000 people on shore. Within the scope of the newly established partnership, the Schulte Group and sea chefs will be able to provide a fully integrated service offering of crew, technical, and hotel management to customers.

The DLA Piper team for this transaction was led by partner Dr Nils Krause (Corporate/M&A), counsel Till Burmeister (Corporate/M&A) and associate Marc Großmann (Corporate/M&A, all Hamburg). Also involved were of counsel Martin Heinsius (Tax, Frankfurt), counsel Dr Mirjam Rüve (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg), Dr Christine Merkel (Litigation, Frankfurt) and associate Melanie Bierwirth (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg).