Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)
DPE provides growth capital and entrepreneurial capital to medium-sized companies, with a stated focus on Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its public strategy includes majority and minority investments, buy-and-build, succession solutions, management buy-outs, IPO support and secondary-market transactions.
What stands out about Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)
DPE focuses on medium-sized companies with annual sales of €20 million to €500 million, strong market positions and sustainable competitive advantages. It typically invests €10 million to €250 million of equity per company and identifies five core sectors: Business Services; Energy & Environment; Healthcare; Industrial Technology; and Software & IT Services.[1][3][5][6][7][8]
What does Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) invest in?
Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) was founded in Munich in 2007 by Marc Thiery and Volker Hichert and operates through DPE Investment Gesellschaft mbH. DPE describes that entity as a capital management company investing the funds it manages in medium-sized growth companies, primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
DPE states that it manages approximately €3 billion across five fund generations and that its funds have invested in around 50 platform companies since 2007.[1][2][5]
DPE states that its mission is to promote portfolio-company growth and create sustainable corporate value over multiple years through capital, expertise, industry networks and partnership-oriented support.
Its publicly stated transaction and solution types include growth capital, buy-and-build, succession solutions, management buy-outs, initial public offering support and secondary-market transactions.[3]
Owners evaluating a financial buyer can compare the offer with independent valuation analysis, understand how acquirers approach transactions through Auxo’s buy-side M&A process guide, and consider whether a full or partial sale best fits their objectives.
What should a business owner evaluate before considering a transaction with Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)?
Owners evaluating DPE can compare their company’s size, market position, competitive advantages, sector and DACH connection with DPE’s stated criteria. DPE’s published solution set includes majority and minority investments, succession solutions, management buy-outs, buy-and-build and secondary-market transactions, so the proposed structure should be clarified directly.
Owners should also ask which DPE fund and legal entity would invest, what management reinvestment or governance arrangements would apply, how any add-on strategy would be defined, and what ownership horizon, exit process, fees and transaction expenses would apply. The official DPE strategy page does not state a universal numeric investment holding-period range or ownership-duration policy, and the official DPE investment page does not provide a universal seller fee schedule or standardized transaction-expense schedule.[1][2][3][6]
Would the proposed transaction be a majority, minority, succession, management buy-out, secondary or buy-and-build investment
What equity investment, valuation, leverage and management reinvestment would be expected for the proposed transaction
What companies does Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) target?
DPE focuses on companies with strong market positions, sustainable competitive advantages and annual sales ranging from €20 million to €500 million. It typically invests €10 million to €250 million of equity per company.[3]
DPE identifies five core sectors: Business Services; Energy & Environment; Healthcare; Industrial Technology; and Software & IT Services.[4]
DPE invests primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and describes its investment focus as the DACH region. Its public investment activity also includes companies with broader international operations.[1][6]
DPE publicly describes buy-and-build as part of its investment model. Its funds have invested in around 50 platform companies since 2007.
Owners considering a platform or add-on pathway should clarify the proposed investment structure and the role of any future acquisitions in the specific transaction.[3][5]
DPE’s official investment page identifies NTA Group as an investment since 2026, CPM Partners since 2025, and IMPAG Group and TKD since 2024. The page also lists additional active and divested investments across DPE’s stated sectors.[6]
On May 27, 2026, a fund managed by DPE signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in NTA Group from Adiuva Capital. The management team was to retain an equity interest, and closing was subject to relevant antitrust approval.
On August 11, 2026, a fund managed by DPE signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH from its founding shareholders and M Cap Finance Mittelstandsfonds. FOGTEC management was to retain a significant stake.
On June 19, 2025, funds managed by DPE acquired a majority stake in CPM Partners from its founders and shareholders. On May 18, 2025, DPE signed an agreement to sell Primutec Solutions Group to Trill Impact. On November 20, 2025, funds managed by DPE announced the sale of Engelmann Sensor to Rivean Capital after a five-year ownership period.[7][8][9][10][11]
What is not clear from Deutsche Private Equity (DPE)'s public investment criteria?
The official NTA Group transaction announcement states that the financial terms of that acquisition were not disclosed. The official FOGTEC transaction announcement likewise states that its financial terms were not disclosed.
The official DPE strategy page describes long-term value enhancement but does not state a universal numeric investment holding-period range or ownership-duration policy. The official DPE investment page identifies portfolio companies and investment years but does not provide a universal seller fee schedule or standardized transaction-expense schedule.[3][6][7][8]
Questions to ask when evaluating Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) as a buyer or investment partner
Which DPE fund and legal entity would make the investment?
Would the proposed transaction be a majority, minority, succession, management buy-out, secondary or buy-and-build investment?
What equity investment, valuation, leverage and management reinvestment would be expected for the proposed transaction?
What ownership or investment horizon would apply, and how would exit decisions be handled?
Which add-on acquisition capabilities and operating resources would be available for the company?
What fees, exclusivity requirements, indemnity terms, rollover expectations and completion conditions would apply?
Sources & research notes
- Official website / firm overview
- Structure / regulatory context
- Investment strategy
- Industry / market focus
- Transaction size / criteria
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
- Transaction / portfolio evidence
How this profile was researched
Auxo profiles are prepared from publicly available primary and authoritative sources and reviewed for entity identity, factual support and disclosure consistency. When a fact cannot be supported by the reviewed public record, the profile identifies it as something to confirm directly rather than inferring it.
Independent research profile
This profile was prepared by Auxo Capital Advisors from publicly available information believed to be reliable and is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not an endorsement, recommendation, ranking, solicitation, or representation regarding the profiled firm, its services, qualifications, transaction experience, regulatory status, financial condition, or suitability for any particular person, company, transaction, or investment.
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