Industry: Machinery and plant engineering
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2022
Employees: 66
Turnover: >EUR 30m
https://www.tibacon.com/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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).
Industry: Machinery and plant engineering
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2022
Employees: 66
Turnover: >EUR 30m
https://www.tibacon.com/
Tiefenbach Control Systems GmbH (“TCS”) is an internationally active developer and producer of system-critical electrohydraulic subsystems, control units and sensor technology for mechanical and plant engineering based in Bochum, Germany. Since its foundation in 1950, TCS has been continuously developed over the past decades in order to consistently expand its position as a technology leader. In particular, the company has established a market-leading position through the introduction of electro¬hydraulic systems, the associated control units (including in-house software development) and sensor systems. End customers use TCS systems to ensure maximum efficiency and personal safety.
Family Trust has acquired 100% of the shares of the family-owned company as part of the transaction and will support TCS in continuing its success.
Industry: Industrials & Global Sourcing
Country: Switzerland
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2021
Employees: 40
Turnover: EUR 11m
https://www.novia.hk/de/home/
Novia Handels GmbH is a full-service manufacturing service provider and global sourcing expert with a focus on zinc and aluminum die casting, supplying leading German OEMs with high-quality individual parts and assemblies. The company handles the process steps design and engineering, sourcing and quality inspection as well as customs clearance and delivery. While sales and engineering take place at the German location, a large manufacturing partner network is serviced from the Asian locations (Hong Kong and China). Novia’s customers benefit from significant cost savings through production in Asia as well as from Novia’s strong engineering competence.
As part of the transaction, Family Trust has acquired 100% of the shares in Novia from the shareholders and intends to support the further growth of the company.
Industry: Industrials & Global Sourcing
Country: Switzerland
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2021
Employees: 71
Turnover: CHF 16m
https://www.globalsourcingservices.ch/
Based in Sirnach (CH) and with production facilities in Shanghai, Global Sourcing Services AG (“GSS”) is a vertically integrated full-service engineering and manufacturing service provider as well as a global sourcing expert for mechatronic assemblies. Whilst the company’s Swiss headquarters acts as the “face” to clients, GSS uses its state-of-the-art production facilities in Shanghai to manage the production of complex mechatronic assemblies, conduct comprehensive quality testing and control of all products before they are sent to clients in Europe, as well as control a network of over 250 production partners. Under the slogan “Swiss Quality Made in China”, the company is strongly positioned in the outsourcing market and supplies large OEMs in a wide variety of industries with high-quality assemblies and components.
From its customers’ perspective, GSS acts as a supplier of assemblies and components; the company assumes responsibility over the following process steps: (1) design & engineering, (2) selection of the optimal materials and manufacturing processes, (3) sourcing of individual components in China through a network of over 250 suppliers, (4) assembly of mechatronic products and components, (5) comprehensive quality inspection, and (6) on-time delivery to the customer with all taxes and import duties paid. For some customers, GSS also offers integrated inventory management services (Vendor Managed Inventory).
Family Trust acquired a majority stake in the company as part of a corporate succession. The owners and co-CEOs Christoph Wilhelm and Esther Sauter will continue to lead the business on an interim basis whilst we conduct a structured search for a suitable successor. In addition, Family Trust is supporting the company’s further growth through its broad network of engineering consultancies (to increase engineering capacity) and potential clients, as well as with targeted sales measures.
Industry: Bouldering gyms
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Buy&Build
Acquisition: Nucleus investment in 2020
Employees: 70
Turnover: <5 Mio. EUR
Urban Apes is a group of bouldering gyms, which was founded in 2011, with the opening of the first location in Lübeck, by Lars Großkurth and Malte Weber. The group pursues the goal of enabling as many people as possible to climb and boulder, as well as to actively develop the bouldering sport and to continuously increase its quality and professionalization. All of the Group’s halls are centrally located in various German cities (e.g. Hamburg, Berlin, Lübeck, Lüneburg).
Family Trust acquired a majority stake in the group as part of the transaction. Together with the founders, who continue to hold a significant stake in the group, Family Trust supports the further growth of the group by implementing a buy & build strategy in the fast-growing market. Through acquisitions and the opening of new halls, the group has meanwhile developed into the largest private provider of bouldering halls in Germany.
Industry: IT Services
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Succession / Buy & Build
Acquisition: in 2020
Employees: 52
Turnover: less than 10 million EUR
https://www.alphaquest.de/
alphaQuest is a highly specialized provider for data analytics, business analytics and software engineering with locations in Ulm and Berlin. The company provides high-quality consulting services along the data science value chain with a focus on data management and business intelligence through to the modeling of complex mathematical models (predictive analytics). In the area of business analytics, business processes are optimized in agile structures by incorporating value-creating digitalization solutions. For these optimizations, the appropriate technical solutions are also implemented by alphaQuest itself in the area of software engineering in the form of enterprise or web & mobile applications.
Family Trust has taken over all shares of the company founder and previous majority owner André Probst as part of a corporate succession. Minority shareholder Dr. Christian Wagner, who has played a key role in alphaQuest’s strategic development from a system house to an IT service provider since 2010, has taken a stake in the company and will continue to lead the company as managing partner. With alphaQuest as an initial strong anchor investment, the fragmented IT services market offers significant potential for a group build-up as part of a buy & build strategy in order to strengthen organic growth.
Industry: Upholstered furniture manufacturer
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2019
Employees: 190
Turnover: 35 million EUR
https://www.dietsch.de/
The Dietsch group of companies is a fully integrated upholstered furniture manufacturer with almost 200 employees covering the entire value chain from design to frame construction to upholstery in one of the most modern European upholstered furniture production facilities. Joachim Dietsch bought back the former family business from the Treuhandanstalt in 1990 and rebuilt it together with his wife Hella Dietsch and their sons Jörk and Mathias. Today, the company is known among end customers and in the specialized trade for excellent value for money “Made in Germany” and, as a member of the German Furniture Quality Association, has repeatedly been awarded the “Golden M” for its outstanding quality.
Industry: Plastic film manufacturer
Country: Switzerland
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2019
Employees: 28
Turnover: CHF 20 million
https://www.almasa.ch/
Alma has been extruding customized laminated films for food packaging for more than five decades in Cormagens, near Fribourg, Switzerland. The company has focused on the development and production of customized multilayer films to exceed the highest quality requirements in terms of heat and pressure resistance, stiffness, layer distribution and coloration. Alma enjoys an excellent reputation in the market and is a reliable system supplier of barrier films for leading international food companies, in some cases as a single source supplier worldwide. In addition to classic multilayer films made of polystyrene and polypropylene, Alma also produces biodegradable products from renewable raw materials.
Family Trust has acquired all operational assets of Alma Extrusions AG in an asset deal, including real estate and a production facility with more than 10,000 sqm. The operational business will be continued by the proven management in the newly founded Alma Packaging AG and all employees were taken over. Family Trust supports the further capacity expansion at the site, accompanies the internationalization and the further development of the biodegradable product variants.
Industry: Handicraft group in the leading trades sanitary, heating, air conditioning
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Owners Buy-Out / Buy & Build
Acquisition: in 2017
Employees: 100
Turnover: 20 million EUR
https://www.pertler.de/
Founded in 1984 by Ernst Pertler, Pertler is one of Munich’s largest specialized SHK companies. In addition to the classic heating construction and plumbing business, Pertler is a leader in service and maintenance as well as the restoration of water damage. The clientele consists mainly of commercial customers such as planners, architects, housing associations and over 100 property management companies.
As part of the structuring of an early succession solution, the owner family has sold shares to Family Trust. At the same time, Stefan Pertler, the son of the company founder, remains a co-partner and CEO of the company. Since Family Trust’s entry, a second management level with divisional managers has been installed, the training and development concept has been revised, capacity planning and recruitment has been optimized, and employees from adjacent trades have been hired in order to broaden the service portfolio offered and deepen value creation. Due to the high deal flow in this segment, several add-on investments have already been realized.
Industry: Market leading distributor of surface & air cleaning devices
Country: Germany
Transaction type: Succession
Acquisition: in 2023
Employees: 40 FTE and over 5.500 distribution partners
Turnover: 45 million EUR
https://www.hyla-germany.de/
Founded in 2009 and headquartered near Stuttgart, Hyla Germany GmbH (“Hyla DE” or the “Company”) is a leading distribution and direct sales company for household appliances in Germany and Austria. The Company holds a distribution exclusivity for Hyla D.O.O. (“Hyla SLO”) surface and air cleaning appliances for Germany and Austria and the option for a further exclusivity in Switzerland. With a team of approx. 5,500 independent distribution partners, who are remunerated through sales commissions for products sold, the company sold approx. 117,000 products in direct sales in 2022 with a turnover of approx. EUR(k) 44,500.
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:
Prevention of pollution
and reduction of
CO2 emissions
Working conditions,
health and safety
in the workplace and
anti-discrimination
Risk management,
anti-corruption
and compliance with
ethical standards
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. →
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.
Students of economics, engineering or natural sciences from the 5th semester (bachelor) or in the master’s program
Students of economics, engineering or natural sciences from the 5th semester (bachelor) or in the master’s program
Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH
Maximilianstraße 52
80538 München
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.