What investment strategy does DPE Deutsche Private Equity focus on?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity focuses on Buyout, Growth strategies in the private equity space.

How many portfolio companies does DPE Deutsche Private Equity have?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity has 20 active portfolio companies and 26 completed exits and 5 funds tracked on GP Intel.

Where is DPE Deutsche Private Equity headquartered?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

What is DPE Deutsche Private Equity's assets under management?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity manages approximately €3.0B in assets under management.

When was DPE Deutsche Private Equity founded?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity was founded in 2007.

What sectors does DPE Deutsche Private Equity invest in?

DPE Deutsche Private Equity invests across Business Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Software, Energy.

What are DPE Deutsche Private Equity's recent exits?

Recent realized exits by DPE Deutsche Private Equity include: Engelmann Sensor (2026) to Rivean Capital; Air Alliance Group (2026) to Pilatus Aircraft; Primutec Solutions Group (2025) to Trill Impact; Elatec (2025) to Allegion; SERCOO Group (2024) to Elevion Group; VTU Group (2023) to Altor; Fischer Surface Technologies (2023) to Miroslav Vacek and Peter Endlich; BE-terna (2022) to Telefonica Tech.

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DPE Deutsche Private Equity

Munich, Germany·Founded 2007·

Buyout Growth Equity

·dpe.de

Munich mid-market buyout and growth firm founded in 2007 by Marc Thiery and Volker Hichert, initially operating as Parcom Deutsche Private Equity. DPE invests EUR 10m to EUR 250m in DACH Mittelstand companies across business services, healthcare, industrial technology, IT and software, and energy and environment. Since 2007 investors have committed over EUR 3bn across five fund generations backing around 50 platform companies with more than 160 add-on acquisitions. In 2022 DPE closed the EUR 710m DPE Fund CF I for Eraneos and valantic, at the time the largest German GP-led secondary transaction.

AUM

€3.0B

Funds

vintages 2008–2022

Portfolio

Exits

DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a Munich buyout firm with €3.0B AUM, 20 active companies and 26 exits.

SectorsBusiness Services Healthcare Industrials Software Energy

Key takeaways

·13 exits in the last 5 years · consistent DPI cadence.
·Average hold across 26 realized deals: 5 years.
·Fund cadence: ~4Y between vintages · last raise 2022.

Sector breakdown

46 companies

Business Services

11 · 24%

IT Services

8 · 17%

Industrials

7 · 15%

Healthcare

3 · 7%

Construction

3 · 7%

HealthTech

2 · 4%

Mobility

2 · 4%

Aerospace & Defence

2 · 4%

Geography breakdown

4 geographies

Germany

39 · 85%

Switzerland

4 · 9%

Austria

2 · 4%

Netherlands

1 · 2%

Key facts

HQMunich, Germany

Founded2007

Employees60+

Websitedpe.de

Recent exits

DPE Deutsche Private Equity sold Engelmann Sensor to Rivean Capital in 2026 after 5 years.

DPE Deutsche Private Equity sold Air Alliance Group to Pilatus Aircraft in 2026 after 8 years.

DPE Deutsche Private Equity sold Primutec Solutions Group to Trill Impact in 2025 after 8 years.

DPE Deutsche Private Equity sold Elatec to Allegion in 2025 after 9 years.

Partners

Marc ThieryManaging Partner and Founder

Guido PrehnManaging Partner

Volker HichertCo-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board

Christian KastenPartner

Fabian RueckerPartner

Coverage notes

5 funds tracked, 46 portfolio companies (20 active · 26 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.

Investment team

Senior partners. Hand-checked from public filings and the firm's own site.

Marc Thiery

Managing Partner and Founder

Guido Prehn

Managing Partner

Volker Hichert

Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board

Christian Kasten

Partner

Fabian Ruecker

Partner

Nils Bennemann

Partner

Funds & portfolio

Every fund DPE Deutsche Private Equity has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.

5 funds

Fund

Strategy

Vintage

Size

Assets

Exits

DPE Fund CF IActive

Buyout2022€710M2 assets

Buyout

2022 · 4yr

€710M

–

Unrealized

2 held

Company	Entry
Eraneos IT Services · Switzerland	2022
valantic IT Services · Germany	2022

DPE Fund IV

Buyout2021€1.0B11 assets1 exits

Buyout

2021 · 5yr

€1.0B

Unrealized

11 held

Company	Entry
adelphi Business Services · Germany	2022
atacama HealthTech · Germany	2023
Auxeum Group Healthcare · Germany	2022
CirQono Business Services · Germany	2022
CPM Partners IT Services · Switzerland	2025
e-motion Consumer · Germany	2022
Green Mobility Holding Mobility · Germany	2021
IMPAG Group Business Services · Switzerland	2024
NTA-Gruppe Business Services · Germany	2026
Sill Optics Industrials · Germany	2022
TKD Group IT Services · Germany	2024

Realized

1 exit

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
Engelmann Sensor Construction · Germany	2021	2026	Secondary	Rivean Capital	–

DPE Fund IIIHarvesting

Buyout2017€600M6 assets9 exits

Buyout

2017 · 9yr

€600M

Unrealized

6 held

Company	Entry
BplusL Business Services · Germany	2020
Mehler Vario System Aerospace & Defence · Germany	2020
Mehler Vario Systems Aerospace & Defence · Germany	2020
Ortheum Healthcare · Germany	2022
Unicair Healthcare · Germany	2018
valantic (formerly Dabero Service Group) IT Services · Germany	2019

Realized

9 exits

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
Air Alliance Group Business Services · Germany	2018	2026	Trade Sale	Pilatus Aircraft	–
BE-terna IT Services · Austria	2019	2022	Trade Sale	Telefonica Tech	–
Centogene Biotech · Germany	2017	2019	IPO	–	–
DEUBIS Group Construction · Germany	2019	2024	–	–	–
eds.group Industrials · Germany	2017	2022	Secondary	Jet Investment	–
Eraneos IT Services · Switzerland	2017	2022	Continuation Vehicle	DPE Fund CF I	–
Primutec Solutions Group Construction · Netherlands	2017	2025	Secondary	Trill Impact	–
valantic IT Services · Germany	2019	2022	Continuation Vehicle	DPE Fund CF I	–
VTU Group Business Services · Austria	2020	2023	Secondary	Altor	–

DPE Fund IIHarvesting

Buyout2013€350M1 assets9 exits

Buyout

2013 · 13yr

€350M

Unrealized

1 held

Company	Entry
OmniaMed HealthTech · Germany	2013

Realized

9 exits

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
Calvias Business Services · Germany	2015	2022	Trade Sale	Rud. Otto Meyer GmbH & Co. KG	–
Elatec Industrials · Germany	2016	2025	Trade Sale	Allegion	–
Fischer Surface Technologies Industrials · Germany	2016	2023	MBO	Miroslav Vacek and Peter Endlich	–
Interschalt maritime systems Software · Germany	2015	2016	Trade Sale	Cargotec	–
J.H. Ziegler Industrials · Germany	2014	2018	Trade Sale	Teijin Frontier	–
PharmaZell Pharma · Germany	2014	2020	Secondary	Bridgepoint	–
SERCOO Group Business Services · Germany	2014	2024	Trade Sale	Elevion Group	–
SLM Solutions Industrials · Germany	2013	2014	IPO	–	–
Webtrekk Data & Analytics · Germany	2014	2019	Trade Sale	Mapp Digital	–

DPE Fund IRealized

Buyout2008€250M0 assets7 exits

Buyout

2008 · 18yr

€250M

Realized

7 exits

Company	Entry	Exit	Type	Buyer	MOIC
Availon Energy · Germany	2008	2016	Trade Sale	Vestas	–
Elevion Business Services · Germany	2011	2018	Trade Sale	CEZ Group	–
expertum Business Services · Germany	2010	2018	Trade Sale	ASAP HR Group	–
First Sensor Industrials · Germany	2011	2019	Trade Sale	TE Connectivity	–
iloxx Logistics · Germany	2008	2011	Trade Sale	DPD (Groupe La Poste)	–
SSB Windenergiesysteme Energy · Germany	2008	2009	Trade Sale	Emerson Electric	–
Westfalia-Automotive Mobility · Germany	2011	2016	Trade Sale	Horizon Global	–

About DPE Deutsche Private Equity

DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a German DACH mid-market private equity firm with €3 billion of assets under management as of December 2024, headquartered in Munich at Ludwigstrasse 7. The firm was founded in 2007 and operates as an independent partner-owned capital management company (KVG). DPE has built a strong buy-and-build operator track record with approximately 50 platform investments generating 160 plus add-on acquisitions and 6,000 plus jobs since inception.

Investment thesis

DPE Deutsche Private Equity deploys capital through five fund generations (DPE I through DPE V), targeting DACH mid-market growth buyouts with majority and minority stakes in medium-sized growth companies via a platform-plus-add-on (buy-and-build) approach. Sector focus spans industrial technologies, business services, healthcare, IT and software and energy and environmental technology. Geographic deployment is anchored in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH region), with the partnership-driven entrepreneur engagement model differentiating the platform across DACH mid-cap deal flow.

Recent activity

Recent realised exits include industrial and manufacturing (2025), aviation services (2025) and sensor technology (2025). Recent acquisitions include business services (2025) and healthcare services (2025). The platform continues active deployment across the DACH mid-market mandate.

Frequently asked questions

What investment strategy does DPE Deutsche Private Equity focus on?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity focuses on Buyout, Growth strategies in the private equity space.
How many portfolio companies does DPE Deutsche Private Equity have?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity has 20 active portfolio companies and 26 completed exits and 5 funds tracked on GP Intel.
Where is DPE Deutsche Private Equity headquartered?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
What is DPE Deutsche Private Equity's assets under management?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity manages approximately €3.0B in assets under management.
When was DPE Deutsche Private Equity founded?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity was founded in 2007.
What sectors does DPE Deutsche Private Equity invest in?: DPE Deutsche Private Equity invests across Business Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Software, Energy.
What are DPE Deutsche Private Equity's recent exits?: Recent realized exits by DPE Deutsche Private Equity include: Engelmann Sensor (2026) to Rivean Capital; Air Alliance Group (2026) to Pilatus Aircraft; Primutec Solutions Group (2025) to Trill Impact; Elatec (2025) to Allegion; SERCOO Group (2024) to Elevion Group; VTU Group (2023) to Altor; Fischer Surface Technologies (2023) to Miroslav Vacek and Peter Endlich; BE-terna (2022) to Telefonica Tech.