Corporate VCPuts its own capital into companiesActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 13 SOURCES

VR Equitypartner

Private equity and mezzanine subsidiary of DZ BANK AG

Also known as VR Equitypartner GmbH, VREP, DZ Equity Partner

Frankfurt Mittelstand equity and mezzanine investor owned by DZ BANK, investing only DZ BANK's own capital (not a fund); EUR 450m invested, 41 holdings (2026).

HEADQUARTERS: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
FOUNDED: 1970
AUM: €450M (2026)
OUTSIDE CAPITAL: No — own capital only
TEAM LISTED: 6 people

Focus

STAGES: GrowthBuyout
SECTORS: Software & SaaS Industrial & Manufacturing HealthTech Consumer & E-commerce
ASSET MIX: Private equityPrivate credit
GEOGRAPHY: GermanyAustriaSwitzerland

Overview

VR Equitypartner GmbH is the Mittelstand equity financing arm of DZ BANK, the central institution of Germany's cooperative banks, and traces its roots to a predecessor founded in 1970. It provides majority and minority direct equity and mezzanine capital to established, mainly family-owned companies in the German-speaking region for succession, growth and internationalisation, and shareholder changes, with target holding periods of five to eight years or longer. It invests only DZ BANK's own funds and stresses that it is not a fund and has no fundraising-driven exit pressure. Its 2026 annual report states EUR 450m invested across 41 holdings (26 direct investments, 15 mezzanine) and 61 staff.

Investment thesis

Sector-agnostic majority and minority stakes and mezzanine in established DACH Mittelstand, especially family-owned companies with sustainable business models, experienced management, positive cash flows and growth prospects; succession, growth and shareholder-change situations, moderate leverage, holding period of five to eight years or longer; focus sectors include building services (TGA), testing, inspection and certification, property services, GovTech and HealthTech.

PORTFOLIO (76)

1AVista Reisen GmbH
Accelerated Solutions GmbH (Accso)
aku.automation GmbH
Angels GmbH
APZ GmbH
CONSILIO GmbH
since 2026
Cygna Labs Group
DEKOM GmbH
DITTRICH+CO GmbH
easy2cool GmbH
Goldeck Süßwaren GmbH
Greiwing Logistics Group
Grundig Business Systems GmbH
Hero Textil AG
Hevert Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG
HomeTech24 Group
IDENTA Ausweissysteme GmbH
INFORMATIK CONSULTING SYSTEMS GmbH (ICS)
Kaske Group
since 2026
KTPconTeyor
Leitner Reisen GmbH
Liberty Fashion Holding GmbH
Megabad – Swash Group
Midoco Group
Mr. Wash Autoservice AG
MySpa Group
NCTE AG
Norafin Unternehmensgruppe
Schmidt + Bartl GmbH
SERVICE 1 GmbH
Signet Wohnmöbel GmbH
Solectrix-ASSDEV Gruppe
TSS Holding (Top-Sport)
Votronic Elektronik-Systeme GmbH
ALUMINA
Exited
Becker Marine Systems
Exited
billerbeck Betten-Union
Exited
Bookwire GmbH
Exited
Breitenfeld AG
Exited
CleanCar AG
Exited
Dämmstoffhandel Nordhausen e.K.
Exited
Deckers Unternehmensgruppe
Exited
digades GmbH
Exited
DILAX Intelcom GmbH
Exited
DUO PLAST AG
Exited
European Convenience Food GmbH
Exited
Evolit Consulting GmbH
Exited
Geiger-Notes AG
Exited
GHM Group
Exited
Groneweg Gruppe
Exited
Ismet GmbH
Exited
Janz IT AG
Exited
Kälte Eckert GmbH
Exited
Konrad Hornschuch AG
Exited
KTN Dr. Neuberger GmbH
Exited
Kuhn Maßkonfektion KG
Exited
Leuna Tenside GmbH
Exited
Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH
Exited
McPaper AG
Exited
melvo GmbH
Exited
MK Metallfolien
Exited
NOVUM Hotel Group
Exited
Ostertag DeTeWe GmbH
Exited
Piller Entgrattechnik GmbH
Exited
schwa-medico Gruppe
Exited
Sievert SE
Exited
The ASH Restaurant & Bar
Exited
TKW GmbH & Co KG
Exited
TRACOE Medical GmbH
Exited
VAUTID GmbH
Exited
Vectron Systems AG
Exited
VELOX GmbH
Exited
vohtec Qualitätssicherung GmbH
Exited
W. Krömker GmbH
Exited
Wingert Foods GmbH
Exited
Zimmer & Hälbig GmbH
Exited

People

Christian Futterlieb
Managing Director (Geschäftsführer); deal sourcing, investments and marketing · source
Peter Sachse
Managing Director (Geschäftsführer); risk and portfolio management, finance, legal and IT · source
Stefan Beismann
Chairman of the Supervisory Board · source
Alexander Berninger
Senior Investment Director · source
Thiemo Bischoff
Team Leader, Team Mitte · source
Astrid Binder
Director, Cooperative Network Sales (Vertrieb Verbund) · source

Frequently asked questions

VR Equitypartner is a corporate venture arm based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 1970.

Yes. VR Equitypartner invests its own capital in private companies.

VR Equitypartner invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Software & SaaS, Industrial & Manufacturing, HealthTech and Consumer & E-commerce.

Key people at VR Equitypartner include Christian Futterlieb (Managing Director (Geschäftsführer); deal sourcing, investments and marketing), Peter Sachse (Managing Director (Geschäftsführer); risk and portfolio management, finance, legal and IT), Stefan Beismann (Chairman of the Supervisory Board) and Alexander Berninger (Senior Investment Director).

VR Equitypartner's investments include 1AVista Reisen GmbH, Accelerated Solutions GmbH (Accso), aku.automation GmbH, Angels GmbH, APZ GmbH, CONSILIO GmbH, Cygna Labs Group and DEKOM GmbH, among others.

The most recent publicly reported investment by VR Equitypartner is CONSILIO GmbH (Mezzanine for BWK's succession buyout), announced in Jul 2026.

VR Equitypartner states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.

No. VR Equitypartner invests its own capital and does not raise money from outside investors.