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Family Trust

ENTREPRENEUR-LED

Family Trust is an investment company managed by entrepreneurs. In addition to significant own funds of the founders, Family Trust invests the assets of institutional investors, family offices, entrepreneurial families, and private individuals in successful medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries.

OPERATIVE

Unlike traditional investment funds, Family Trust not only offers capital but also operational support as an active sparring partner for the management of the acquired companies in identifying and realizing growth potential.

SUSTAINABLE

With our extensive operational experience and entrepreneurial expertise in a wide range of industries, we coach our portfolio companies in their long-term strategic, organizational and content-related development.

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Family Trust invests in medium-sized companies regardless of the industry.

MEDIUM SIZED COMPANIES

Family Trust acquires majority stakes in profitable medium-sized companies headquartered in German-speaking countries, irrespective of the industry. Our claim is to identify growth potential in collaboration with the management and to develop market leaders by implementing buy-and-build strategies.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Our investment strategy is particularly suitable for investment situations that require operational entrepreneurial competence and passion: Age-related succession planning, the implementation of buy & build concepts in fragmented markets, or spin-offs from a corporate group. However, we do not invest in start-ups.

BASIC INFORMATION

We assess all investment opportunities  on their own merit. Desirable are several of the following criteria (as PDF):

Annual sales EUR 5 to 250 million
Profitable business model, established market position, and customer base
Potential for attractive acquisitions / industry consolidation
Capital requirements of up to EUR 100 million

TYPICAL INVESTMENT SITUATIONS

Respectful - Committed - Sympathetic

Family Trust supports entrepreneurs in the context of succession planning and in the realization of wealth tied up in their business. The options range from a complete sale with immediate departure from the management and the recruitment of external managers to a partial exit or the reorganization of the shareholder structure, combined with a return participation in the company. This enables entrepreneurial families to remain connected with the company in the longer term and to participate in its further development. Family Trust is also open to complex solutions.

Family Trust accompanies committed management teams in their transition from working as employed managers to becoming self-employed in the form of a management buy-out. In doing so, we offer management teams an equity participation in partnership at preferential conditions. In addition, we support the companies in the implementation of growth strategies with capital for acquisitions as well as with our operational know-how in the leveraging of organic growth options and operational improvement potential.

In the financing of buy & build concepts by family trusts, a strong group of companies is built up in fragmented markets through a high number of acquisitions. The establishment of shared services and the standardization of processes create economies of scale without restricting local decision-makers in their day-to-day business. We reserve sufficient financial resources for further acquisitions at the time of entry and provide support both in the search for suitable companies and in the implementation of the transactions and realization of the economies of scope. This concept is particularly suitable for entrepreneurs in the context of growth financing of their companies or for successful industry managers who want to build up their “own” company with Family Trust.

The Family Trust Team has extensive experience in the acquisition of subsidiaries or parts of companies from corporate groups and larger medium-sized companies. These spin-offs allow the management to realize the full potential of the companies independently and free from the constraints of corporate politics. In doing so, we advise the companies on their transformation into independent medium-sized enterprises (e.g. on the establishment of a stand-alone corporate structure while maintaining long-term supply and service relationships with the former parent company).

PORTFOLIO

Companies actively managed by Family Trust

PREVIOUS PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

Family Trust Investments that were exited

RESPONSIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY

Our actions as shareholders

Family Trust pursues a sustainable investment approach that integrates environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) principles. We follow this approach in all our investment decisions. We also carry our sustainability standards into all of our investments, as we believe that incorporating ESG standards into our daily operations allows us to minimize business risks while realizing cost savings. Together, we work to continuously improve businesses, creating the link between ESG issues and sustainable business success. Within ESG issues, Family Trust focuses particularly on the following key areas:

ENVIRONMENT

Prevention of pollution 

and reduction of 

CO2 emissions

SOCIAL ASPECTS

Working conditions,
health and safety 
in the workplace and

anti-discrimination

GOVERNANCE

Risk management,
anti-corruption
and compliance with
ethical standards

UNPRI – UNITED NATIONS „PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT“

To underline our responsibility in environmental issues, fair labor standards and ethical corporate governance, FTI has committed to bindingly comply with the “Principles for Responsible Investment” (“UNPRI”) formulated by the United Nations. →

NETWORK

We maintain a continuously growing network of experienced experts from a wide range of disciplines, some of whom we have been working with on a basis of trust for decades. These include industry experts, M&A consultants, auditors, tax advisors and lawyers who support us as needed.

Thus, an efficient and reliable team, tailor-made for each situation, is available at short notice. This applies to all aspects of an individual company audit prior to investment by Family Trust, as well as to the ongoing support and operational development of acquired companies.

CAREER WITH FAMILY TRUST

We are currently looking for employees (m/f) for the following areas:

Investment Team
Working students and interns

Students of economics, engineering or natural sciences from the 5th semester (bachelor) or in the master’s program

 

Job description as PDF

Private Equity Operations
Interns

Students of economics, engineering or natural sciences from the 5th semester (bachelor) or in the master’s program

 

Job Description as PDF 

 

CURRENT TOPICS

News around Family Trust

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    LOCATION

    Family Trust's home is in Munich.

    Hobe Micro Tools

    Industry: Manufacturer of carbide precision tools
    Country: Germany
    Transaction type: Management buy-in
    Acquisition: in 2016
    Exit: in Jan 2023
    Employees: 36
    Turnover: less than 10 million EUR
    https://www.hobe-tools.de/

    Founded in 1971 in Baienfurt, Hobe GmbH is today one of the leading European manufacturers of carbide precision tools specializing in internal machining of the smallest bores. The micro tools manufactured by Hobe are used in the fields of medical technology, precision mechanics and electronic components.

    The sellers, the Hobe siblings, had to leave the company within a few months after the sale for private reasons. Together with the new (external) managing director and co-partner Dr. Jens-Jörg Eßer, Family Trust has rebuilt the management team and the organizational structure and invested substantially in production capacities and the development of direct sales. Since the takeover, strong organic growth has been achieved and the product range has been successively expanded.

    Andreas Augustin

    Andreas Augustin is Managing Director and has been active in the investment business since 2005. Before founding Family Trust, he managed various portfolio companies of Orlando Management AG as a restructuring expert. Prior to that, he worked as a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group on strategy, growth and M&A projects.
     
    Andreas holds a degree in physics from the Technical University of Munich and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

    Andreas Augustin

    Andreas Augustin ist Geschäftsführer und seit dem Jahr 2005 im Beteiligungs­­geschäft aktiv. Vor Gründung von Family Trust leitete er als Sanierungs­experte verschiedene Portfolio­firmen der Orlando Management AG. Davor arbeitete er als Unternehmens­­berater bei der Boston Consulting Group auf Strategie-, Wachstums- und M&A-Projekten.

     

    Andreas ist Diplom-Physiker der Technischen Universität München und hat einen MBA der Stanford Graduate School of Business.

    Florian Schepp

    Florian Schepp is Managing Director and has been active in the investment business and asset management since 2002. Prior to Family Trust, he helped build two companies and most recently successfully sold Vescore Solutions AG to a strategist. Prior to that, he was a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.
     
    Florian holds a degree in Business Administration (lic.oec. HSG) from the Swiss University of St. Gallen, an MBA from INSEAD, Fontaineblau and is a CFA Charterholder.

    Florian Schepp

    Florian Schepp ist Geschäftsführer und seit dem Jahr 2002 im Beteiligungs­geschäft und der Vermögensverwaltung tätig. Vor Family Trust hat er zwei Unternehmen mit aufgebaut und zuletzt die Vescore Solutions AG erfolgreich an einen Strategen veräußert. Davor war er Unternehmensberater bei der Boston Consulting Group.

     

    Florian ist Betriebswirt (lic.oec. HSG) der Schweizerischen Universität St. Gallen, hat einen MBA von INSEAD, Fontaineblau und ist CFA Charterholder.

    Carsten Abdel Hadi

    Carsten Abdel Hadi is Managing Director and has been active in the investment business since 2009. Prior to Family Trust, he worked in the investment team of Afinum Management GmbH and Aurelius SE, where he advised on more than a dozen transactions. Prior to that, he worked in the M&A team at KPMG and as an investment banker at Jefferies & Company.
     
    Carsten holds a degree in Business Administration from ISM in Dortmund and an MSc. in International Business and Economics from Budapest University of Economic Sciences.

    Carsten Abdel Hadi

    Carsten Abdel Hadi ist Geschäftsführer und seit dem Jahr 2009 im Beteiligungs­geschäft aktiv. Vor Family Trust war er im Investment Team der Afinum Management GmbH und der Aurelius SE tätig, wo er über ein Dutzend Transaktionen begleitet hat. Davor war er im M&A Team bei KPMG sowie als Investment­banker bei Jefferies & Company tätig.

     

    Carsten ist Diplom-Betriebswirt der ISM in Dortmund und hat einen MSc. in International Business and Economics der Budapest University of Economic Sciences.

    Tobias Fuhrmann

    Tobias Fuhrmann is Managing Director and has been active in the investment business since 2008. Prior to Family Trust, he was a partner and board member of Orlando Management AG, where he was responsible for operations. He was Managing Director of several portfolio companies, including founding CEO of Vivonio Furniture Group. Prior to that, he worked for seven years as a consultant at McKinsey & Co.
     
    Tobias holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Munich and an MBA from IESE Business School Barcelona.

    Tobias Fuhrmann

    Tobias Fuhrmann ist Geschäftsführer und seit dem Jahr 2008 im Beteiligungs-geschäft aktiv. Vor Family Trust war er als Partner und Vorstand der Orlando Management AG aktiv und verantwortete hier den Bereich Operations. Er war Geschäftsführer mehrerer Portfoliofirmen, u.a. auch Gründungs-CEO der Vivonio Furniture Group. Davor arbeitete er sieben Jahre als Berater bei McKinsey & Co.

     

    Tobias ist Diplom-Bauingenieur der Technischen Universität München und hat einen MBA der IESE Business School Barcelona.

    Friedrich Wallwitz

    Friedrich Wallwitz is an investment director and has been active in the investment business since 2018. Prior to Family Trust, he was an investor for Gimv NV and an M&A advisor focusing on succession situations for Edmond de Rothschild and PMB Capital, guiding family-owned companies through a change of ownership. He began his career at J.P. Morgan as a commodities trader.
     
    Friedrich holds a B.A. Economics and International Relations from Lancaster University, and an LL.M. Law & Economics from the Universities of Hamburg, Rotterdam and Berkeley. In addition to his work at J.P. Morgan, he completed an M.A. Christian Theology at the University of London.

    Friedrich Wallwitz

    Friedrich Wallwitz ist Investment Director und seit dem Jahr 2018 im Beteiligungs­geschäft aktiv. Vor Family Trust war er als Investor für die Gimv NV sowie als M&A Berater mit Fokus auf Nachfolge­situationen für Edmond de Rothschild und PMB Capital tätig und begleitete familien­geführte Unternehmen durch einen Eigentümer­wechsel. Seine Karriere begann er bei J.P. Morgan als Rohstoffhändler.

    Friedrich hält einen B.A. Economics und Internationale Beziehungen der Lancaster University, sowie einen LL.M. Law & Economics der Universitäten Hamburg, Rotterdam und Berkeley. Neben seiner Tätigkeit bei J.P. Morgan absolvierte er einen M.A. Christliche Theologie an der University of London.

    Annalisa Scharff

    Annalisa Scharff has been Finance Director at FTI since 2023. Prior to Family Trust, she worked for Alvarez & Marsal as Finance Manager in a portfolio company of GIMV NV and as M&A advisor focusing on financial due diligence. She started her career at Deloitte in the Corporate Finance team.

    Annalisa holds an MSc in Finance, Accounting, Controlling and Taxation (FACT) from WFI – Ingolstadt School of Management. She gained additional experience abroad during her academic career in Canada.

    Annalisa Scharff

    Annalisa Scharff ist seit 2023 Finance Director bei FTI. Vor Family Trust war sie in einem Portfoliounternehmen von GIMV NV als Finance Manager sowie als M&A Berater mit Fokus auf Financial Due Diligence für Alvarez & Marsal tätig. Ihre Karriere begann sie bei Deloitte im Corporate Finance Team.

     

    Annalisa hält einen MSc in Finance, Accounting, Controlling und Taxation (FACT) von der WFI – Ingolstadt School of Management. Zusätzliche Auslandserfahrungen sammelte sie während ihrer akademischen Laufbahn in Kanada.

    Alexander Malessa

    Alexander Malessa is an Investment Associate and has been active in the investment business since 2022. Prior to Family Trust, he worked at Ernst & Young with a focus on advising and auditing financial services institutions and medium-sized companies and completed further relevant internships.

    Alexander holds a B.A. in Business Administration Banking with a focus on Digital Finance from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University.

    Linus Möllers

    Linus Möllers is an Investment Associate and has been active in the investment business since 2023. He joined Family Trust in 2022 as a member of the Operations Team, driving projects in the portfolio companies. He completed relevant internships at Ernst & Young in Finance Consulting, among others, and focused his entire academic career on finance.


    Linus holds an MSc. in Finance from the Nova School of Business & Economics. Linus gained additional international experience during his academic career in Los Angeles as well as in the professional field in Geneva.

    Linus Möllers

    Linus Möllers ist Investment Associate und seit dem Jahr 2023 im Beteiligungsgeschäft aktiv. Family Trust begleitet er seit 2022 als damaliges Mitglied des Operations Team bei den Portfoliounternehmen. Er absolvierte fachrelevante Praktika bei u.a. Ernst & Young im Finance Consulting und fokussierte sich seine gesamte akademische Karriere auf den Finanzbereich.


    Linus hält einen MSc. in Finance von der Nova School of Business & Economics. Zusätzliche Auslandserfahrung sammelte Linus während seiner akademischen Laufbahn in Los Angeles sowie im professionellen Bereich in Genf.