Acquisitions in Berlin, Germany

CUBE, a London-based regulatory intelligence and change management provider, has acquired Berlin-headquartered Kodex AI to expand its AI capabilities for compliance and risk management in the financial industry. The deal adds agentic AI “co-worker” functionality to CUBE’s RegPlatform and brings Kodex AI’s Berlin team into CUBE; transaction terms were not disclosed.

Roqad acquired Zeotap-Data, Zeotap’s third-party audience business, for an undisclosed amount. The combination is intended to expand privacy-compliant identity resolution and audience activation for digital advertisers, leveraging Zeotap-Data’s third-party segments and integrations with platforms such as Amazon DSP, The Trade Desk, and Adform. Zeotap-Data will continue operating as a third-party data provider under the Roqad brand and the businesses plan to retain all current staff while expanding headcount in the UK and Germany.

Create Music Group (CMG) has acquired Berlin-based independent label !K7 Music. CMG plans to use its global infrastructure to support !K7’s operations, artist services, and distribution while preserving the label’s independent ethos and legacy, including its DJ-Kicks series.

Chemonics International, a sustainable development company, announced the acquisition of Berlin-based Luvent Consulting. The deal expands Chemonics’ European presence and adds Luvent’s capabilities in international development, including digital transformation, private sector development, and climate action.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital’s real estate arm, H.I.G. Realty, has made an investment in Ziegert Group GmbH, a fully integrated German real estate platform active in the Berlin and Leipzig markets. The investment proceeds will be used primarily to finance existing projects and support strategic acquisitions as Ziegert expands its value-add opportunities in German residential real estate.

CERTANIA Holding GmbH has acquired and integrated Alphalytik Pharmaservice GmbH, a Berlin-based pharmaceutical analytical testing laboratory. The deal expands CERTANIA’s Testing, Inspection & Certification and laboratory services capabilities in life sciences, strengthening its offering in stability testing, method validation, and release testing.

E-Commerce Software Group, a portfolio company of funds advised by Bregal Unternehmerkapital (BU), has acquired DemoUp Cliplister GmbH, a Berlin-based SaaS platform for syndication and management of visual content for brands and e-retailers. The acquisition expands E-Commerce Software Group’s capabilities in digital product presentation and marketing optimization, creating cross-selling opportunities across its multichannel e-commerce software portfolio.

CVC DIF, through its CIF III fund, has agreed to acquire HiSERV, a German market leader in aviation ground service equipment (GSE) leasing and related maintenance and repair services. HiSERV will be purchased from AVECO Holding and is expected to continue as a standalone business backed by CVC DIF to pursue pan-European growth, with closing anticipated in Q3 2024 subject to regulatory approvals.

Market intelligence platform Lighthouse has acquired HQ revenue, a Berlin-based market data specialist. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the companies said the deal will accelerate investment and innovation for customers as Lighthouse continues building a next-generation commercial platform for hospitality businesses.

Heras, a perimeter protection specialist backed by Equistone Partners Europe, has acquired BA-KRO, a German provider of installation and service for high-security electronic and mechanical perimeter protection systems. The deal expands Heras’ high-security capabilities and strengthens its service and maintenance footprint across Germany, while BA-KRO continues as a separate brand under the Heras banner.

Allurity, a European group of tech-enabled cybersecurity companies, has completed the strategic acquisition of Security Research Labs (SRLabs), a cyber consultancy based in Berlin and Hong Kong. The deal strengthens Allurity’s cybersecurity consulting and research capabilities and supports its strategy to build a leading pure-play cybersecurity services provider in Europe with global reach.

The Riverside Company-backed Montel AS completed a double add-on acquisition, buying Energy Brainpool and Qwatt to expand Montel’s energy-market data, analytics, and forecasting capabilities across Europe. Energy Brainpool strengthens Montel’s analytics, advisory, and training offering in the European power market, while Qwatt adds subscription-based PPA benchmarking and forecasting to deepen Montel’s renewables analytics presence.

Sunday Natural secured an investment from CVC Fund VIII to support scaling operations and expand the company’s international reach. Founder Jörg Schweikart will continue to play a key strategic role and will remain significantly invested in the business. Financial terms were not disclosed and closing is subject to regulatory approvals.

Oakley Capital-backed 7NXT, owner and operator of the Gymondo fitness platform, has agreed to acquire digital wellbeing app 7Mind. The combination is intended to create a broader consumer platform spanning physical fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and meditation, with more than 650,000 paying subscribers and expanded B2B relationships (including with health insurers).

Volaris Group announced the acquisition of NOVENTIcare, a Berlin-based provider of software solutions that streamline and digitalize operations for healthcare workers. NOVENTIcare was previously a subsidiary of NOVENTI Group and will join Volaris Group’s portfolio of vertical market software businesses.

WorkGenius acquired Expertlead, a Berlin-based technology firm that matches tech freelancers with companies and provides peer-to-peer live coding assessments. The transaction was announced by Riveria Investment Group, which is described as a growth-focused private equity firm.

Ringbeck Group, a portfolio company of AURELIUS Growth Investments, acquired Rüdiger Brandenburg GmbH, a full-service provider of garden, landscape, and sports ground construction services. The deal is an add-on acquisition intended to strengthen Ringbeck’s presence in the Berlin/Brandenburg region, with Rüdiger Brandenburg’s management team continuing to lead the business post-close.

Belden Inc. acquired Berthold Sichert GmbH for approximately $98 million in April 2023. Based in Berlin, Germany, Sichert designs and manufactures polycarbonate street cabinets used in outside plant passive optical networks (PON) and 5G networks, expanding Belden’s fiber portfolio in key growth markets.

EQT Private Equity (EQT Mid Market fund) has agreed to sell and has closed the sale of kfzteile24, a German eCommerce platform for automotive spare parts and accessories. The buyer is an investment consortium consisting of the company’s management, Project A Ventures, Koehler Group, and a group of technology investors referred to as “SB21.” The transaction closed on 20 April 2023.

Ringbeck, a portfolio company of AURELIUS Growth Investments, has acquired Klaus Hildebrandt AG, a German gardening and landscaping services provider specializing in complex green roofing installations. The deal expands the Ringbeck Group’s presence in northern and eastern Germany, with Klaus Hildebrandt’s management team remaining in place and retaining a minority stake. This transaction is Ringbeck’s fifth add-on acquisition in under two years as part of AURELIUS Growth Investments’ buy-and-build strategy.

Pollen Street acquired a majority stake in PAIR Finance GmbH, an AI-based digital debt collections platform headquartered in Berlin. The former largest shareholder, finleap, partially exited and will remain invested as a minority shareholder to support PAIR Finance’s continued growth and international expansion.

Ageras Group, a Copenhagen-rooted fintech and accounting software provider for small businesses, has acquired Kontist, a Berlin-based neo-bank focused on freelancers, the self-employed, and microbusinesses in Germany. The deal expands Ageras into Europe’s largest market and adds Kontist’s banking, digital tax, and accounting capabilities to Ageras’ SME “fintech cockpit,” with Kontist’s team joining Ageras and Kontist’s founder continuing with the business post-acquisition.

Investcorp Technology Partners (ITP) entered into a definitive agreement to sell softgarden e-recruiting GmbH, an HR recruiting software provider, to Grupa Pracuj for €118 million. Softgarden is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and the transaction is expected to close imminently.

Handshake acquired Talentspace, a virtual and hybrid recruiting events platform focused on universities and global employers in Europe. The deal strengthens Handshake’s virtual events product suite and accelerates its expansion from the United Kingdom into broader continental Europe. Talentspace will continue operating independently from its offices in Berlin.

Phenom acquired Tandemploy, a Berlin-based HR technology company focused on employee experience and internal mobility. The deal expands Phenom’s AI-powered Talent Experience Management (TXM) platform capabilities (including talent marketplace and matching) and strengthens its European footprint by adding a Berlin location.

Forterro’s product business abas Software GmbH acquired abas System GmbH, a Berlin-based value-added reseller for abas ERP serving northern and central Germany, reaching 100% ownership in a deal that closed in December 2021. Separately, Forterro formed Forterro Bulgaria Ltd. to serve as a regional service centre supporting abas ERP customers in Eastern Europe (not an acquisition).

Hyperscience announced it has completed the acquisition of Boxplot, a Berlin-based startup that provides a graph data modeling tool. The combination is intended to unite Hyperscience’s unstructured data processing and automation capabilities with Boxplot’s graph-based data relationship storage to improve decisioning and interoperability across business processes. The deal was signed on December 6 and represents Hyperscience’s first acquisition.

Perwyn completed an investment in Barfer's Wellfood GmbH, a Berlin-based premium raw (BARF) pet food company. Perwyn will partner with founder Norman Vogel to accelerate growth and further strengthen Barfer's direct-to-consumer position in the rapidly expanding natural raw pet food market.

Calibre Scientific acquired msscientific Chromatographie, a Berlin, Germany-headquartered distributor of chromatography analytical products and equipment. The acquisition strengthens Calibre Scientific’s chromatography capabilities and expands its scalable distribution presence across the DACH region.

Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE) announced it has completed the acquisition of German fintech viafintech (known under the brand viacash). The deal is intended to accelerate Paysafe’s growth in Germany and expand its alternative payments/eCash capabilities, with viafintech’s management team joining Paysafe’s eCash division.

MEDIA Central, a portfolio company of funds advised by Bregal Unternehmerkapital (BU), acquired Berlin-based Offerista Group GmbH in late July 2021. The merger combines MEDIA Central’s unaddressed household advertising capabilities with Offerista’s digital drive-to-store and shopper marketing network to provide a single-source, full-service trade marketing offering across Europe.

HAL Investments B.V. has agreed to acquire Pro Gamers Group (PGG), a Berlin-headquartered gaming gear specialist, from funds advised by Gilde Buy Out Partners. PGG is a digitally native supplier of high-end gaming systems and peripherals sold through B2C e-commerce and B2B distribution channels worldwide. PGG’s management team will continue to lead the business alongside HAL as the new majority shareholder.

SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH has sold its stake in Berlin-based Crystal GmbH to Silver Investment Partners (SIP). Crystal, a producer and processor of crystals and optical components used in medical technology applications such as respirators and laser systems, will partner with SIP to accelerate product development and international expansion.

SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH has sold its stake in Crystal Laser Systems GmbH (CryLaS) to Silver Investment Partners (SIP). CryLaS, a Berlin-based manufacturer of deep-UV laser systems serving healthcare, biotech and semiconductor applications, will partner with SIP to expand products, services, and production capacity.

SAP has agreed to acquire Signavio, a SaaS-based business process intelligence and process management software provider. Existing investors Apax Digital Fund (Apax Digital), DTCP and Summit Partners agreed to sell the portfolio company, with closing expected by Q2 2021 subject to antitrust approvals; financial terms were not disclosed.

Funds advised by Gilde Buy Out Partners agreed to purchase a minority stake in ]init[ AG für digitale Kommunikation, a Berlin-based digital transformation services provider. Existing investor EMERAM Capital Partners will retain its ownership, holding an equal stake to Gilde after the partial sale, while founders and management remain shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary conditions (including antitrust approval) and was expected to close in January 2022; financial terms were not disclosed.

ASTI Mobile Robotics Group signed an agreement to fully acquire InSystems Automation GmbH, a Berlin-based automation and mobile robotics company. InSystems will be integrated into ASTI to strengthen ASTI’s Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) and mobile robot portfolio and expand its presence in Germany, Central Europe, and the United States.