Hannover Finanz, Arcus acquire Löwenstark

Löwenstark founder Marian Wurm is to retain a significant stake in the business, while Hannover Finanz and Arcus Capital will hold a 75% stake.

The investment is intended support the company's future growth and its long-term succession planning, according to a statement.

Asked about how the cooperation between the two GPs came about, Stefan Eishold, CEO of Arcus Capital, told Unquote: "The initial exchange was via personal contacts among the partners. We thought it was a good combination of Hannover Finanz's financial strength and general management knowledge, with Arcus's specific industry knowledge."

NordLB provided debt to back the buyout.

Hannover Finanz has previously invested in the digital marketing sector, including Markenfilm and Media Concept. The firm invests in businesses with revenues of at least €20m and makes equity investments of up to €50m, targeting Mittelstand companies operating in growing sectors.

Arcus invests in Mittelstand companies with revenues of €10-150m that it considers to have attractive growth potential, focusing on the consumer goods, industrials, healthcare, media and software sectors.

Company
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Brunswick, Germany, Löwenstark specialises in online marketing projects in three core areas: performance marketing, brand marketing and web development. The firm has around 500 national and international clients, according to a statement. These include German companies such as XXXLutz and Pimkie, as well as internationally operating corporates such as American Express and BASF.

The company employs 150 staff in 10 locations. Arcus's Eishold told Unquote that the company has "medium double-digit revenues with high double-digit growth".

People
Löwenstark Gruppe – Hartmut Deiwick (CEO); Marian Wurm (founder).
Arcus Capital – Stefan Eishold (CEO); Maximilian Vogel, Daniel Bachmeier (investment managers).
Hannover Finanz – Goetz Hertz-Eichenrode (spokesperson for the board); Jörg Caesar (partner); Christina Silberberger (partner, general counsel); Rüdiger Pohl (investment manager); Gerrit Baumecker (investment associate).

Advisers
Equity – Ebner Stolz (financial due diligence, tax); Eccelerate (commercial due diligence); KPMG (legal); Guett Olk Feldhaus (legal).

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• Topics
• Buyouts
• DACH
• Consumer
• Germany
• Hannover Finanz