Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Unconditional and its majority owner Edvard Varda on the sale of a stake in the company to the Fressnapf Group. Schoenherr reportedly advised the Fressnapf Group on the acquisition.
According to DTB, “as one of the leading regional pet supply companies, Unconditional has effectively partnered and cooperated with the Fressnapf Group that is now its strong shareholder investing in the company’s further expansion in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Since its founding in 1974 with one pet store in Split, Croatia, Unconditional has grown to nearly 300 employees today, operating 30 pet stores in Croatia and supplying over 1,000 pet stores and veterinarians in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia.”
The Fressnapf Group, a European pet supplies company, is currently active in 11 countries with more than 1,800 stationary and online stores.
"Our joint venture covering the markets in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria is the next logical step to achieve our vision – passion and commitment to unconditional care for all our customers: pets, pet lovers, our B2B customers, and other pet professionals,” commented Varda. “Through know-how, experience, and cooperation with the Fressnapf Group, we are confident that we will enable as many people as possible to provide the best care for pets in our region.”
DTB’s team included Senior Partner Damir Topic and Attorney Dina Salapic.
Editor's Note: After this article was published, Schoenherr confirmed it had advised the Fressnapf Group on the acquisition. The firm's team included Partners Markus Piuk, Christoph Haid, and Srdjana Petronijevic, Attorneys Vice Mandaric, Ana Marjancic, Ksenija Sourek, Djordje Trifunovic, and Jan Primozic, and Associates Irina Hanin, Alexandra Jelinek, Lucija Krznar, and Alan Vuckovecki.
