DPE Deutsche Private Equity
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a Munich-based private equity firm managing approximately EUR 3 billion across five fund generations, investing EUR 10–250 million per company into mid-sized growth businesses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland across five thematic sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DPE Deutsche Private Equity does
DPE Deutsche Private Equity GmbH (legal entity: DPE Investment Gesellschaft mbH) is a Munich-based private equity firm founded in 2007 by Marc Thiery and Volker Hichert. The firm manages five fund generations totaling approximately EUR 3 billion in assets under management and invests growth capital of EUR 10–250 million per company into mid-sized businesses primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (the DACH region). Investments span five thematic sectors — Business Services, Energy & Environment, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services — and take the form of both majority and minority stakes, supported by an active buy-and-build approach (over 160 add-on acquisitions since inception).
DPE earns revenue through two primary streams: recurring management fees on committed AUM across its fund generations and performance-based carried interest on exits above hurdle rates. The firm serves two customer sets: institutional and private investors (funds-of-funds, insurance companies, pension funds, government agencies, family offices, banks) on the LP side, and portfolio company management teams on the operating side. DPE supports portfolio companies with capital, strategic expertise, a dedicated Portfolio Team of industry specialists, and access to its add-on and international expansion networks; recent value-creation initiatives include a dedicated Director of AI & Tech Value Creation and sustainability leadership. The firm has no proprietary technology platform — its product is fund investment vehicles delivered through a partnership-based GP model.
Since 2007, DPE has executed ~50 platform investments and over 160 add-on acquisitions, created more than 6,000 jobs, and reports ~20% annual revenue growth across portfolio companies. Active portfolio companies currently employ ~11,000 people. Recent strategic activity includes the 2022 launch of the EUR 710 million Continuation Fund (the largest GP-led secondary in Germany at the time), the 2021 close of EUR 1 billion Fund IV, and notable exits (Primutec Solutions Group in 2025 at over EUR 360 million, Elatec to Allegion in 2025) alongside new platform acquisitions (CPM Partners in 2025, NTA Group in 2026).
DPE Deutsche Private Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DPE Deutsche Private Equity
- Legal name
- DPE Investment Gesellschaft mbH
- Website
- http://www.dpe.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a Munich-based private equity firm managing approximately EUR 3 billion across five fund generations, investing EUR 10–250 million per company into mid-sized growth businesses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland across five thematic sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DPE Deutsche Private Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Growth Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro industry
- Security & Defense / GovTech Growth Equity
Keywords
Where DPE Deutsche Private Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DPE Deutsche Private Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: DPE earns management fees on the assets under management across its five fund generations totaling approximately EUR 3 billion. Fee structures are standard for closed-end private equity funds.
- Carried Interest / Performance Fees: DPE earns carried interest (performance fees) when portfolio companies achieve defined returns for investors above the hurdle rate. This aligns DPE's incentives with investor returns.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
DPE Deutsche Private Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a capital management company (Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft) that invests in mid-sized growth companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The firm manages five fund generations with total assets under management of approximately EUR 3 billion, deploying equity investments of EUR 10-250 million per company across five core sectors: Business Services, Energy & Environment, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services.
Product overview
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a capital management company (Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft) that provides growth capital for mid-sized companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Rather than a unified software product, DPE offers investment fund products structured across five fund generations managing approximately €3 billion in total assets. Their core offering combines equity investment (€10-250 million per company) with strategic partnership and operational support for portfolio companies. The funds invest across five core sectors: Business Services, Energy & Environment, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services. DPE also offers an Investor Portal for portfolio monitoring, ESG due diligence services, and advisory support for investments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DPE Fund I: First fund generation launched in 2008 with EUR 250 million in commitments, focused on growth investments in DACH region medium-sized companies.
- DPE Fund II
- DPE Fund III
- DPE Fund IV
- DPE Fund CF I (Continuation Fund)
Products and services
- DPE Fund I First fund generation launched in 2008 with EUR 250 million in commitments, focused on growth investments in DACH region medium-sized companies.
- DPE Fund II Second fund generation launched in 2013 with EUR 350 million in commitments, continuing the firm's investment strategy in the DACH region.
- DPE Fund III Third fund generation launched in 2017 with EUR 600 million in commitments, fully invested across Business Services, Healthcare and Industrial Technology sectors.
- DPE Fund IV Fourth fund generation launched in 2021 with EUR 1 billion in commitments, the largest fund generation, currently in final deployment phase across Business Services, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services.
- DPE Continuation Fund I (CF I) Continuation fund launched in 2022 with EUR 710 million, representing the largest GP-led secondary offering in Germany, dedicated to continued growth of portfolio companies eraneos and valantic through M&A.
- Growth Capital Investments Equity investments ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 250 million in medium-sized DACH companies, taking both majority and minority stakes, with strategic partnership and operational support.
- Succession Solutions (Nachfolgelösungen) Entrepreneurial capital providing succession solutions for founder-owned mid-sized companies seeking strategic transition partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6,000 new jobs created since 2007 in portfolio companies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DPE Deutsche Private Equity
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DPE Deutsche Private Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DPE Deutsche Private Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- DeloitteminorDeloitte provided financial advisory services to DPE in connection with the NTA Group acquisition.
- CA StrategyminorCA Strategy provided commercial advisory services to DPE in connection with the NTA Group acquisition.
- PwCminorPwC provided tax and structure advisory services to DPE in connection with the NTA Group acquisition.
- DechertminorDechert provided legal advisory services to DPE in connection with the NTA Group acquisition.
- Bär & KarrerminorBär & Karrer provided legal and structure advisory services to DPE in connection with the CPM Partners acquisition.
- EY ParthenonminorEY Parthenon provided commercial advisory services to DPE in connection with the CPM Partners acquisition.
- EYminorEY provided financial and tax advisory services to DPE in connection with the CPM Partners acquisition.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DPE Deutsche Private Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Equistone Partners Europe: Pan-European mid-market PE firm historically headquartered in Munich/Zurich with strong DACH focus. Direct competitor for mid-sized company deals, buy-and-build strategies, and succession solutions.
- IK Investment Partners: European mid-market PE firm with significant DACH activity and overlap in industrial/services sectors. Comparable on fund vintage size, pan-European LP base, and buy-and-build execution model.
- capiton AG: Berlin-based mid-market PE firm focused on succession solutions and growth capital in DACH. Competes for similar Mittelstand succession deals with comparable fund sizes and holding structures.
- Paragon Capital: Munich-based independent mid-market PE firm focused on DACH Mittelstand succession and growth deals. Direct competitor with similar size and sector exposure.
- Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG): Frankfurt-listed German mid-market PE firm with similar focus on DACH Mittelstand growth and buyout investments. Closest publicly listed comparable, with overlapping sector coverage and similar EUR 10-250M ticket sizes.
- Auctus Capital Partners: Munich-based mid-market PE firm specializing in succession-led deals and majority investments in DACH Mittelstand. Directly comparable on geography, ticket size (EUR 10-250M), and succession solution focus.
- Adiuva Capital: German mid-market PE firm that sold NTA Group to DPE in 2026. Directly comparable on DACH Mittelstand focus, succession deals, and similar ticket sizes in industrial/services sectors.
Broad incumbents
- Antin Infrastructure Partners: Larger European PE firm with infrastructure focus that occasionally invests in DACH industrial/services companies. Comparable on institutional LP base and European mid-market deal execution, but operates at larger scale.
Regional players
- Nordwind Capital: Munich-based growth equity firm focused on German Mittelstand succession and tech-enabled services. Overlaps with DPE on ticket size, sector coverage, and growth equity orientation.
- BlackFin Capital Partners: Paris-based mid-market PE firm with DACH expansion and similar Mittelstand focus. Comparable on mid-market growth capital deployment across financial services and technology-enabled businesses in Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DPE Deutsche Private Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DPE Deutsche Private Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles30 records
DPE Deutsche Private Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DPE Deutsche Private Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A20 records
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DPE Deutsche Private Equity
What does DPE Deutsche Private Equity do?
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a capital management company (Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft) that invests in mid-sized growth companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The firm manages five fund generations with total assets under management of approximately EUR 3 billion, deploying equity investments of EUR 10-250 million per company across five core sectors: Business Services, Energy & Environment, Healthcare, Industrial Technology, and Software & IT Services.
Is DPE Deutsche Private Equity a public or private company?
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DPE Deutsche Private Equity founded?
DPE Deutsche Private Equity was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is DPE Deutsche Private Equity based?
DPE Deutsche Private Equity is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DPE Deutsche Private Equity make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Performance Fees.
Who are DPE Deutsche Private Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Equistone Partners Europe, IK Investment Partners, capiton AG, Paragon Capital, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG), Auctus Capital Partners and Adiuva Capital. Antin Infrastructure Partners is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Nordwind Capital and BlackFin Capital Partners.
Does DPE Deutsche Private Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for DPE Deutsche Private Equity.
What industry is DPE Deutsche Private Equity in?
DPE Deutsche Private Equity's product category is Private Equity / Growth Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAN, Security & Defense / GovTech Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6799.