nwk | nwu (Sparkasse Bremen)

Focus

STAGES

GrowthBuyout

SECTORS

Industrial & ManufacturingConsumer & E-commerceFood & AgricultureReal Estate & PropTechSoftware & SaaS

ASSET MIX

Private equityPrivate credit

GEOGRAPHY

Germany

Overview

nwk nordwest Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft der Sparkasse Bremen mbH and its subsidiary nwu nordwest Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft der Sparkasse Bremen mbH are the private-equity companies of Die Sparkasse Bremen AG, which owns nwk outright; nwu is a Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft under the UBGG. They provide minority equity stakes of up to 49% and mezzanine capital of €0.5–5 million per investment to profitable Mittelstand companies, without a sector focus and without fund-imposed holding periods. The companies report more than 25 portfolio companies and more than €50 million of managed capital, with the first acquisition made in July 2001. Recent investments include alfavet (succession, January 2025) and CoolerU Logistics (April 2025).

Investment thesis

Sector-agnostic minority equity (up to 49%) and mezzanine capital of €0.5–5m per investment for profitable Mittelstand companies in growth or maturity, successions (portfolio page), shareholder changes and MBO/MBI (Anlässe page), decided on business model and management quality; no collateral required; not fund-financed, so equity stakes have no fixed holding period and can be open-ended.

PORTFOLIO (38)

• alfavet
  since 2025
• CoolerU Logistics GmbH
  since 2025
• Contec Gesellschaft für Organisationsentwicklung GmbH
  since 2024
• PROCON (Kita project company)
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2024
• JOWA-KLN Holding GmbH
  since 2023
• MEIN.NATURBROT GmbH & Co. KG
  Food & Agriculture · since 2023
• NordCap GmbH & Co. KG
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2022
• Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft Seelachstraße GmbH
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2022
• Quatre Vents Wünsdorf GmbH
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2022
• RoBoTec PTC GmbH
  Food & Agriculture · since 2020
• BdV Behrens GmbH
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2020
• immergrün Franchise GmbH
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2019
• Cosimo Investment Group
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2018
• Preussen Invest
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2018
• Procertus Sicherheits- und Dienstleistungs GmbH
  since 2017
• Karibu Holztechnik GmbH
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2014
• neuland Büro für Informatik GmbH
  Software & SaaS · since 2007
• United Robotics Group Health & Food GmbH
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2021 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2025)
• Kaesler Nutrition GmbH
  Food & Agriculture · since 2014 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2024)
• Bremer Holzwerke GmbH
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2013 · Exited (trade sale to Karibu group, 2024)
• Umwelt Management AG (UMaAG)
  Climate & Energy · since 2013 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2023)
• DSBC Immobilien GmbH (project)
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2018 · Exited (asset deal, 2023)
• MBDX Organisationsentwicklung GmbH
  since 2019 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2022)
• Multiplex GmbH
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2003 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2021)
• Fun Factory GmbH
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2009 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2021)
• JOKE Event AG
  since 2002 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2019)
• engram GmbH
  Software & SaaS · since 2002 · Exited (trade sale to IKOR Products, 2013)
• Balnea | Dannenberg GmbH & Co. KG
  Real Estate & PropTech · since 2017 · Exited (2019)
• Papa Türk
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2014 · Exited (sold to private investor, 2017)
• Veracus
  since 2010 · Exited (sold to Tönnies group, 2017)
• Antares Datensysteme GmbH
  since 2008 · Exited (sold to Oilserve FZCO, 2013)
• Georg Schünemann GmbH
  since 2003 · Exited (sold to SF Beteiligungen, 2012)
• netvico GmbH
  Software & SaaS · since 2006 · Exited (2011)
• DFH Deutsche Fonds Holding AG
  since 2005 · Exited (sold to Nordwest Industrie Finance, 2010)
• CeBeNetwork Holding GmbH
  since 2003 · Exited (sold to Voith, 2008)
• ersol Solar Energy AG
  Climate & Energy · since 2001 · Exited (IPO; sold to Robert Bosch GmbH, 2008)
• Lingk & Sturzebecher GmbH
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2007 · Exited (owner's buyback, 2008)
• WPD AG
  Climate & Energy · since 2001 · Exited (2005)

People

• Ralf Paslack
  Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) of nwk and nwu · source
• Heiko Jodeit
  Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) of nwk and nwu · source
• Stephan Breitenkamp
  Prokurist · source
• Marcel Barnick
  Prokurist · source
• Philipp Zabywalski
  Senior Beteiligungsmanager · source
• Hratsch Werdjan
  Junior Beteiligungsmanager · source

Links

• Website
• Official contact page

Frequently asked questions