Bitburger Holding GmbH
Also known as Bitburger Holding, Bitburger Unternehmensgruppe, Bitburger Ventures GmbH
Holding of the Bitburger family group (Bitburg, est. 1998) that invests outside beer: Gerolsteiner, Wera, Dürr Dental, Avista Oil, Schülke; VC via Simon Capital.
USEFUL FOR Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Group holding of the Bitburger family business in Bitburg (Eifel). Not the Bitburger Braugruppe GmbH (the beer business it sits alongside) and not Simon Capital, its venture vehicle, which is listed here as an arm.
Family & background
- FAMILY
- Simon
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Bitburger brewery (Bitburger Braugruppe)
- HEADQUARTERS
- Bitburg, Germany
- FOUNDED
- 1998
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- No — own capital only
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- GermanyAustriaSwitzerland
- STAGES
- GrowthBuyout
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital)
- STRATEGIES
- Direct investmentsPrivate equityVenture capital
Overview
Bitburger Holding GmbH was founded in 1998 as the umbrella company of the Bitburger Unternehmensgruppe, with the task of developing the group structure and finding entrepreneurial holdings outside the traditional beer business. Alongside the Bitburger Braugruppe it holds majority stakes in Gerolsteiner and Wera and minority stakes in Dürr Dental, Avista Oil and Schülke & Mayr, the last acquired in 2023 together with other German family offices. It has sold Poli-Tape (2024), Sterntaler and HTS tentiQ (2025). Through its venture vehicle Simon Capital it invests in young, innovative companies with high growth potential.
Investment thesis
Takes majority or strong minority stakes in successful Mittelstand family companies with durable business models, excellent products and strong brands, mainly in German-speaking countries, largely without acquisition debt, and welcomes co-investments with other family businesses. Invests in young, high-growth companies through Simon Capital.
Holdings & investments (8)
INVESTMENT ARMS & VEHICLES
- Venture capital vehicle (Beteiligungsgesellschaft) through which the holding invests in young, innovative companies with high growth potential
- Core beer business of the Bitburger Unternehmensgruppe (Bitburger, König, Köstritzer, Licher)
HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS · MOST RECENT FIRST
- GerolsteinerNOTABLEConsumer & E-commerce · Majority stake
- WeraNOTABLEIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2016 · Majority stake
- Dürr DentalNOTABLEHealthTech · since 2011 · Minority stake
- HealthTech · since 2023 · Minority stake
- Climate & Energy · since 2019 · Minority stake
- HTS tentiQIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2019 · Exited
- Poli-TapeIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2016 · Exited
- SterntalerConsumer & E-commerce · since 2010 · Exited
People
Frequently asked questions
Bitburger Holding GmbH is a family holding based in Bitburg, Germany, founded in 1998.
Bitburger Holding GmbH invests on behalf of the Simon family (Bitburger brewery (Bitburger Braugruppe)).
Bitburger Holding GmbH invests its own capital into companies. Its stated asset mix includes direct investments, private equity and venture capital.
Bitburger Holding GmbH invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Consumer & E-commerce, Industrial & Manufacturing, HealthTech and Climate & Energy.
Key people at Bitburger Holding GmbH include Dr. Stefan Schmitz (Managing Director (Geschäftsführer)), Dieter Henne (Managing Director (Geschäftsführer)) and Dr. Hans-Gerd Wienands (Managing Director (Geschäftsführer)).
Bitburger Holding GmbH's holdings and investments include Gerolsteiner, Wera, Dürr Dental, Avista Oil, Schülke & Mayr, Sterntaler, Poli-Tape and HTS tentiQ.
The most recent publicly reported investment by Bitburger Holding GmbH is Deutsche Sanierungsberatung (dsb) (Series A (€10m) via Simon Capital, which co-led the round with VERBUND X Ventures), announced in Jul 2026.
No. Bitburger Holding GmbH invests its own capital and does not raise money from outside investors.