ECM Equity Capital Management
Also known as ECM, ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH, German Equity Partners (GEP)
Frankfurt mid-market buyout firm founded in 1995; manages the German Equity Partners funds (GEP I–V, over €1bn in total) taking majority stakes in DACH Mittelstand companies.
- HEADQUARTERS
- Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- FOUNDED
- 1995
- AUM
- —
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- Yes
- TEAM LISTED
- 9 people
Focus
- STAGES
- GrowthBuyout
- ASSET MIX
- Private equity
- GEOGRAPHY
- GermanyAustriaSwitzerland
Investment arms & vehicles
- Current fund, €325M commitments, investing since 2018
Overview
ECM Equity Capital Management has invested in German-speaking mid-sized companies since 1995, focusing on majority stakes at changes in the shareholder base: successions, corporate spin-offs, partnership investments with entrepreneurs, growth financings and complex special situations. It has launched five German Equity Partners funds and made more than 50 investments and add-ons, and its BVK profile puts the total volume of GEP I–V at more than €1 billion; GEP I–III are fully realised and GEP V, with €325 million, has been investing since 2018. Its fund investors include Pensionskassen, Versorgungswerke, insurers and family offices, and the team co-invests personally in every deal. Typical targets have EBIT above €2.5 million and enterprise values up to €125 million, with platform companies based in the DACH region.
Investment thesis
Sector-agnostic investor in attractive business models with sustainable competitive advantages, strong market positions and entrepreneurial management teams; supports value creation through its ECM Value Impact Program and buy-and-build.
PORTFOLIO (29)
- MediFoxNOTABLESoftware & SaaS · Exited
- KAMPSNOTABLEConsumer & E-commerce · Exited
- PolytanNOTABLEIndustrial & Manufacturing · Exited
- VestasNOTABLEClimate & Energy · Exited
- Education GroupEducation · since 2023
- DETAXHealthTech · since 2022
- ETS GroupClimate & Energy · since 2019
- Leitnersince 2014
- BergmannIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2013
- ONE HIRINGExited
- DATAPARTSoftware & SaaS · Exited
- YellowFoxSoftware & SaaS · Exited
- Intermate GroupExited
- UrovivaHealthTech · Exited
- Apostroph GroupExited
- PikeTecSoftware & SaaS · Exited
- DermatologikumHealthTech · Exited
- PAAL-GroupIndustrial & Manufacturing · Exited
- KadiConsumer & E-commerce · Exited
- inTimeMobility & Logistics · Exited
- SodawerkConsumer & E-commerce · Exited
- eismannConsumer & E-commerce · Exited
- KK&KExited
- PolyCompExited
- Casa RehaHealthTech · Exited
- SpectroExited
- AlukonIndustrial & Manufacturing · Exited
- M&J FibretechExited
- MAPExited
People
- Axel EichmeyerManaging Partner (at ECM since 1998); Geschäftsführer · source
- Florian KählerManaging Partner (at ECM since 2009); Geschäftsführer · source
- Alexander SchönbornPartner · source
- Tim KrumePartner · source
- Paul HansenInvestment Manager · source
- Leopold DannerInvestment Manager · source
- Isabel BergerFinance Director & Head of ESG · source
- Vanessa Crescencio TrageserInvestment Associate · source
- Sofia BalogianniInvestment Analyst · source
Links
Frequently asked questions
ECM Equity Capital Management is a private equity fund based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 1995.
Yes. ECM Equity Capital Management invests its own capital in private companies.
ECM Equity Capital Management invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Industrial & Manufacturing, Software & SaaS, HealthTech, Education and Consumer & E-commerce.
Key people at ECM Equity Capital Management include Axel Eichmeyer (Managing Partner (at ECM since 1998); Geschäftsführer), Florian Kähler (Managing Partner (at ECM since 2009); Geschäftsführer), Alexander Schönborn (Partner) and Tim Krume (Partner).
ECM Equity Capital Management's investments include MediFox, KAMPS, Polytan, Vestas, Education Group, DETAX, ETS Group and Leitner, among others.
The most recent publicly reported investment by ECM Equity Capital Management is Education Group (Majority investment (GEP V)), announced in Jan 2023.
Yes. ECM Equity Capital Management manages capital from outside investors.