Cologne — Emma — The Sleep Company has sold shares to the Haniel Group. All existing investors sold their shares to Haniel as part of the transaction. The transaction did not include a financing round, as Emma is profitable and growing on its own. The two founders Manuel Müller (left: photo: Moritz Reich) and Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi will remain shareholders in the company with 24.95 percent each and will continue to drive the international expansion as well as the acquisition of further market shares of Emma together with Haniel as active co-CEOs. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price or further details of the contractual arrangements. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
With a team led by Dr. Oliver Böttcher and Kristina Schneider from the Cologne office, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised the shareholders of Emma — The Sleep Company (Bettzeit GmbH) on the transaction with Haniel.
Emma — The Sleep Company was founded in 2013 and in just six years has grown from an online platform for mattresses and sleep systems to an internationally operating sleep tech provider that is one of Europe’s fastest growing companies. The popular direct-to-consumer brand Emma is available in 21 countries around the globe and has already established itself as the leading bed-in-a-box provider in the constantly growing market for sleep-related products in many European countries. The rapid growth is realized by a team that now consists of 350 people and is characterized by product innovations, the rapid implementation of ideas and individualized strategies for each market. Other factors in the company’s success include a high level of concentration on technology-supported processes and a particular focus on research and the continuous further development of products.
Advisors to Emma — The Sleep Company (Bettzeit GmbH): Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek
Dr. Oliver Böttcher, Kristina Schneider, LL.M. (Photo)Laura Rilinger (all Corporate), Markus Schmülling (Labor Law), all Cologne;
Fabian G. Gaffron (Tax Law), Hamburg
Beatrice Stange, LL.M. (antitrust law), Düsseldorf