GESCO
Also known as GESCO SE, GESCO AG
Listed Wuppertal investment holding (founded 1989, listed since 1998, Prime Standard) that buys and holds 100% stakes in industrial Mittelstand companies, mostly as succession solutions.
- HEADQUARTERS
- Wuppertal, Germany
- FOUNDED
- 1989
- AUM
- —
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- Yes
- TEAM LISTED
- 6 people
Focus
- STAGES
- Buyout
- ASSET MIX
- Private equityDirect investments
- GEOGRAPHY
- Germany
Overview
GESCO SE is a Wuppertal investment holding founded in 1989 by private investors (auditors, tax advisers and entrepreneurs) to solve succession in the German Mittelstand, and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 24 March 1998. It acquires, holds and develops industrial Mittelstand companies, usually buying 100%, with no exit horizon, and groups its subsidiaries into three segments: Materials Refinement & Distribution, Health Care & Life Science, and Industrial Assets & Infrastructure. In July 2025 it bought Eckart GmbH, a Schlüchtern maker of hydraulic swivel motors, from the founding family. The free float is 81.3%; entrepreneur Stefan Heimöller (supervisory board chair) holds about 14.2% and investor Norman Rentrop 14.5%.
Investment thesis
Acquire successful, well-run industrial Mittelstand companies (niche and technology leaders, mainly capital goods) as a succession solution or growth partner, hold them permanently as majority (typically 100%) owner while keeping them operationally independent, and develop them through group programmes for operational excellence, market and product development and leadership.
PORTFOLIO (12)
- Eckart Hydraulics (Eckart GmbH)Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2025
- AMTRIONHealthTech · since 2021
- INEX solutionsIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2018
- Pickhardt & Gerlach-Gruppe (PGW)Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2016
- Kesel-GruppeIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2009
- Setter-GruppeIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2004
- SVTIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 2002
- MAE-GruppeIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 1997
- Doerrenberg-GruppeIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 1996
- CASTEONIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 1996
- Franz Funke ZerspanungstechnikIndustrial & Manufacturing · since 1995
- AstroPlast KunststofftechnikIndustrial & Manufacturing · Exited
People
- Johannes PfefferCEO (Management Board member since 1 October 2024) · source
- Andrea HolzbaurCFO (Management Board member since 26 September 2022); finance, legal, investor relations · source
- Stefan HeimöllerChairman of the Supervisory Board · source
- Jens Große-AllermannDeputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board · source
- Dr. Nanna RappSupervisory Board member · source
- Dr. Mathias SaggauSupervisory Board member · source
Links
Frequently asked questions
GESCO is a private equity fund based in Wuppertal, Germany, founded in 1989.
Yes. GESCO invests its own capital in private companies.
GESCO invests at Buyout stage in Industrial & Manufacturing and HealthTech.
Key people at GESCO include Johannes Pfeffer (CEO (Management Board member since 1 October 2024)), Andrea Holzbaur (CFO (Management Board member since 26 September 2022); finance, legal, investor relations), Stefan Heimöller (Chairman of the Supervisory Board) and Jens Große-Allermann (Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board).
GESCO's investments include Eckart Hydraulics (Eckart GmbH), AMTRION, INEX solutions, Pickhardt & Gerlach-Gruppe (PGW), Kesel-Gruppe, Setter-Gruppe, SVT and MAE-Gruppe, among others.
The most recent publicly reported investment by GESCO is Eckart GmbH (Acquisition of 100% (succession solution)), announced in Jul 2025.
GESCO states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.
Yes. GESCO manages capital from outside investors.