Montagu Private Equity (“Montagu”), a leading European private equity firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement with Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and Bankhaus Lampe KG to acquire their stakes in Frankfurt-based investment company Universal-Investment. Both parties have agreed to not disclose the financial terms and further details of the transaction. The completion is subject to regulatory approval.
With €280 billion in assets under administration, more than 1,000 mandates and funds as well as 650 employees, Universal-Investment is the largest independent investment company in the German-speaking region. With its three divisions – administration, insourcing and risk management – the company focuses on the efficient and transparent administration of funds, securities, alternative asset classes and real estate. Established in 1968, Universal-Investment is headquartered in Frankfurt/Main with subsidiaries and holdings in Luxemburg and Austria. As pioneer of the investment industry Universal-Investment is today market leader in the areas of master-KVG and private label funds.
Universal-Investment has been among the fastest growing investment companies in Germany and Luxemburg, having quadrupled its administered assets from €70 billion to €280 billion in the previous ten years. This has been primarily driven by general wealth agglomeration and gain in market share. In addition, the company has entered into new areas of growth through its real estate and alternative investment segment. Here Universal-Investment has already structured real estate projects for institutional investors worth more than €6 billion as well as projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, private equity and private debt worth more than €15 billion.
Bernd Vorbeck, Spokesman of the Management Board of Universal-Investment said: “Our recipe for success includes our employees’ commitment and expertise, our independence as well as our distinct business model as leading Master-KVG platform. That’s why we’re especially excited to have found a new partner and owner in Montagu, which will continue to actively support this strategy in future.”
Daniel Fischer, Director at Montagu Private Equity, commented: “For more than 45 years, Universal-Investment has been a pioneer in the investment industry and the benchmark for servicing master funds (Master-KVG) and private label funds. We’re particularly impressed by the performance of the management team, which has developed Universal-Investment into a growing platform with an outstanding reputation. We’re excited to work closely with Bernd Vorbeck and his team going forward, accompanying them through the company’s next growth phase.”
Following the acquisition of Swiss-based Equatex from UBS in 2015, Universal-Investment represents Montagu’s second investment in the financial services sector in the DACH region.
