Droege Group
Also known as Droege Group GmbH, Droege Group AG, Droege International Group AG, Droege Capital
Family-owned Düsseldorf investment and advisory house investing its own equity in special opportunities on an evergreen buy & build basis; majority owner of ALSO Holding.
USEFUL FOR Fund managers raising capital · Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Family-owned investment and advisory house in Düsseldorf (Droege Group GmbH / Droege International Group AG). Not related to drugstore ('Drogerie') chains.
Family & background
- FAMILY
- Droege
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Consulting and investment group founded 1988
- HEADQUARTERS
- Düsseldorf, Germany
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- No — own capital only
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- Europe
- STAGES
- GrowthBuyout
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital) · Funds (as LP)
- STRATEGIES
- Private equityDirect investmentsFunds (as LP)
Overview
Droege Group describes itself as an investment and advisory house that combines private-equity professionalism with the values of a family business, investing its own equity in 'special opportunities' and building an evergreen portfolio. It targets Mittelstand companies, corporate spin-offs and carve-outs, buy-and-build transactions and succession cases, including restructurings and turnarounds, and also invests in funds and directly in growth companies as a passive minority investor. Its subsidiary Special Distribution Holding GmbH is the majority shareholder of the listed IT distributor ALSO Holding AG, and CEO Dr. Ernest-W. Droege is a shareholder of the allergen-immunotherapy company HAL Allergy. The group was founded in 1988 by Walter P. J. Droege and Hedda im Brahm-Droege and is wholly owned by the Droege family.
Investment thesis
Invests its own equity as an entrepreneur in 'special opportunities': Mittelstand companies, corporate spin-offs and carve-outs, buy-and-build platforms and succession cases, with a focus on restructurings, underperformers and turnarounds and on growth aligned with megatrends; builds an evergreen portfolio with a 'Buy & Build & Operate' approach. Also takes passive minority positions through funds and direct stakes in growth companies that can scale with its platforms.
Holdings & investments (2)
- ALSO HoldingNOTABLESoftware & SaaS · Majority stake (51.3% via Special Distribution Holding GmbH, as of September 2016)
- HAL AllergyNOTABLEBiotech & Life Sciences
People
- Dr. Ernest-W. DroegeChair of the Management Board (Geschäftsführung, Vorsitz); CEO · source
- Dr. Bardo DroegeManagement Board (Geschäftsführung) · source
- Tomo DroegeManagement Board (Geschäftsführung) · source
- Prof. Dr. Gustavo Möller-HergtChair of the Supervisory Board (external member) · source
- Dr. Simone KämpferSupervisory Board member (external) · source
- Herbert H. JacobiHonorary President (Ehrenpräsident) · source
Frequently asked questions
Droege Group is a family holding based in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Droege Group invests on behalf of the Droege family (Consulting and investment group founded 1988).
Droege Group invests its own capital into companies and in third-party funds as an LP. Its stated asset mix includes private equity, direct investments and funds (as lp).
Droege Group invests at Growth and Buyout stages in HealthTech, Biotech & Life Sciences, Software & SaaS and Consumer & E-commerce.
Key people at Droege Group include Dr. Ernest-W. Droege (Chair of the Management Board (Geschäftsführung, Vorsitz); CEO), Dr. Bardo Droege (Management Board (Geschäftsführung)), Tomo Droege (Management Board (Geschäftsführung)) and Prof. Dr. Gustavo Möller-Hergt (Chair of the Supervisory Board (external member)).
Droege Group's holdings and investments include ALSO Holding and HAL Allergy.
No. Droege Group invests its own capital and does not raise money from outside investors.