Luther advises Douglas on acquisition of online pharmacy disapo.de

With the acquisition of disapo.de Apotheke B.V., Douglas is strengthening two pillars of its growth strategy at the same time: the consistent digitalisation of the business model and the expansion of the premium beauty platform to include health products. Disapo co-founder and previous managing director Sebastian Kraus will remain responsible for the management of the online pharmacy business after the acquisition, thus securing valuable know-how for Douglas in the new business segment.

The purchase agreement underlying the acquisition was concluded on 9 February 2022. The acquisition is still subject to various conditions precedent, including merger clearance.

Luther advised on the acquisition process from due diligence to the conclusion of the contract. An international team from the Düsseldorf, Cologne, Shanghai and Luxembourg offices was involved. Under Luther's leadership, the Dutch corporate boutique Florent was also involved. Furthermore, the law firm Wuertenberger | Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB advised Douglas on pharmacy law issues.

About Douglas

Douglas is Europe's leading premium beauty platform. With over 160,000 beauty and lifestyle products in online shops, beauty marketplaces and over 2,000 shops, Douglas inspires people to live individual beauty in unprecedented diversity. The further expansion of the high-growth e-commerce is the focus of the #FORWARDBEAUTY.DigitalFirst strategy. In the 2020/2021 financial year, Douglas generated sales of Euro 3.1 billion in the areas of perfumery, decorative cosmetics, skin and hair care as well as nutritional supplements, health and accessories.

About disapo.de Apotheke B.V.

disapo.de Apotheke B.V., based in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is one of the fastest-growing providers in the online pharmacy business with its current sales focus on Germany and China.

On behalf of Douglas GmbH

Inhouse: Dr Johannes Schulte (General Counsel & CHRO, Chief Compliance Officer), Dr Oliver Trautmann, LL.M. (Director Legal Corporate & Finance)

Luther Corporate/M&A: Dr Michael Bormann (Partner) (Lead Partner), Marc Urlichs (Counsel), Christian Wensing, LL.M. (Associate)

Luther, Intellectual Property & Copyright: Dr Detlef Mäder (Partner), Tobias Schneider (Associate)

Luther, Commercial & Distribution Law, Product Liability/Product Compliance: Volker Steimle (Partner), Svenja Schwarze (Senior Associate)

Luther, Competition Law: Dr Holger Stappert (Partner), Franz-Rudolf Groß, LL.M. (Counsel)

Luther, Employment Law: Hans-Christian Ackermann (Partner), Lukas Gallenkämper (Associate)

Luther Shanghai: Liao Yuhui (Partner), Liu Tianjiao (Senior Associate), Zhu Qin, Pan Shujun

Luther Luxembourg: Marion Lanne (Managing Associate)

Florent B.V.: Pieter van Uchelen (Partner), Emille Buziau (Partner), Hella Huismann, Renzo ter Haseborg, Lidewei Lankreijer, Simon van Doren, Lisette Smits van Oyen, Ruud Jungschläger, David van Kessel

Wuertenberger | Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB: Dr Hannes Kern (partner), Lukas Altmeyer

Notary's office: Hauschild Böttcher Notaries, Düsseldorf