Haniel

Overview

Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH describes itself as a German family equity company headquartered in Duisburg-Ruhrort since its founding in 1756 and as a 100 percent family-owned holding pursuing a long-term investment strategy. Through direct investments it primarily develops majority holdings in market-leading business services companies across Europe; majority holdings named on its site are BauWatch, BekaertDeslee, the CWS divisions (Cleanrooms, Fire Safety, Hygiene, Workwear), Emma, das kinderzimmer (KMK), ROVEMA and TAKKT. Its investments page also lists ceconomy, 1KOMMA5°, Aerones, AMBOSS, ecoworks, happybrush, Sdui and Wandelbots; the 2025 annual report describes 1KOMMA5°, Aerones and ecoworks as direct minority stakes. In addition it runs 'FHC Capital', a globally oriented multi-asset portfolio. For fiscal 2025 the group reported revenue of EUR 4,073 million and an operating result of EUR 305 million; in September 2026 Carlyle and CVC DIF agreed to acquire BauWatch from Haniel.

Investment thesis

Long-term, family-owned investor acting as an entrepreneurial sparring partner, initiator and capital provider: majority stakes in leading European providers in the business services sector, developed with buy-and-build (e.g. CWS Fire Safety), alongside growth-capital minority investments, in line with the founding family's 'enkelfähig' ethos of combining entrepreneurial success with responsibility for the environment and society.

Holdings & investments (15)

• CWS Group (Cleanrooms, Fire Safety, Hygiene, Workwear)NOTABLE
  Industrial & Manufacturing
• TAKKTNOTABLE
  Industrial & Manufacturing
• Emma – The Sleep CompanyNOTABLE
  Consumer & E-commerce
• 1KOMMA5°NOTABLE
  Climate & Energy
• ecoworks
  Climate & Energy · since 2023 · Minority stake
• BauWatch
  Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2021 · Sale to Carlyle and CVC DIF agreed September 2026 (closing expected Q1 2027); Haniel to retain a 10% minority stake
• KMK kinderzimmer
  Education · since 2021
• BekaertDeslee
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2015
• ROVEMA
  Industrial & Manufacturing
• Aerones
  Climate & Energy · Minority stake
• Wandelbots
• CECONOMY
  Consumer & E-commerce · Sale of stake to JD.com announced; closing expected H2 2026
• AMBOSS
  HealthTech
• happybrush
  Consumer & E-commerce
• Sdui
  Education

People

• Philipp Göhre
  Partner Multi-Asset · source
• Michael Olschewski
  Senior Investment Manager · source
• Julia Wautmann
  Senior Investment Manager · source
• Nicolaas Hackbarth
  Senior Investment Manager · source
• Richard Krieg
  Investment Manager · source
• Nils Löhnert
  Investment Analyst · source
• Nils Dall
  Asset Manager · source
• Joachim Drees
  CEO · source
• Henk Derksen
  CFO · source
• Katharina Rosenbohm
  Head of Mergers & Acquisitions · source
• Christian Pospiech
  Senior Operating Partner · source
• Lukas Droege
  Operating Partner · source
• Maximilian Schwaiger
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board · source

Classification

Family Holding. A family's holding company that owns stakes in several separate businesses or invests beyond its own group, without calling itself a family office. How family capital is classified →