IMAP advised the shareholders of Rosemarie Eppers GmbH & Co. KG ('Eppers'), a leading German manufacturer of spices, seasoning sauces and marinades, in entering into a strategic partnership with the NovaTaste Group. The combined company will expand its offering of customised flavour solutions. Eppers will continue to operate under its own brand at its site in Saarbrücken-Bübingen, while the current management will retain key positions.

The expertise of the two companies is a perfect fit: NovaTaste, which has so far specialised in dry solutions, gains a European liquid platform through Eppers' expertise in the liquid segment. At the same time, Eppers benefits from NovaTaste's seasoning expertise, functional products, infrastructure and international network.

The family-owned company Eppers has been synonymous with high-quality seasonings for more than 40 years. With around 140 employees, the international company develops and produces a wide range of spices, sauces and marinades for industry, trade and consumers.

NovaTaste is a global leader in flavour innovation. With its broad portfolio of renowned brands such as WIBERG, Gewürzmüller, Gewürzmühle Nesse, Mühlehof Gewürze, McClancy, Piasa, AMCO, Redbrook, BSA WIBERG and The Mighty, NovaTaste offers comprehensive flavour solutions. The company employs over 2,200 people in 19 different locations in Europe, America and Asia. NovaTaste serves food manufacturers, butchers and food service companies in Europe, North America and Asia.

Nicole Leyendecker-Eppers, Managing Director of Eppers, said: 'Of course, it was not a light decision to put my family business into new entrepreneurial hands. But I know that in NovaTaste we have found the ideal partner for Eppers and that we can continue to grow as part of this group. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the IMAP team, who have provided us with excellent support in this new phase of the company's history and have advised us competently and with great dedication on all relevant aspects of the transaction process.

The IMAP team led by Dr Carsten Lehmann, Alessandro Cornelli and Birgit Roosileht exclusively advised the shareholders of Rosemarie Eppers GmbH & Co. KG in a structured M&A process through all phases to a successful closing.

The closing of the transaction is subject to antitrust approval.