ECM Equity Capital
ECM Equity Capital is an independent Frankfurt-based private equity firm founded in 1995 that manages the German Equity Partners (GEP) fund series, investing in mid-sized DACH companies through ownership successions, partnership deals, and corporate spin-offs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ECM Equity Capital does
ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH is an independent, Frankfurt-based private equity firm founded in 1995 that manages the German Equity Partners (GEP) fund series. Across five fund vintages the firm has raised aggregate equity commitments exceeding €1 billion, with the current fund, GEP V, closed at its €325 million hard cap in June 2018. ECM invests primarily in leading mid-sized companies — the German Mittelstand — in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, focusing on ownership successions, partnership transactions and corporate spin-offs. Portfolio construction spans automotive suppliers (Bergmann Automotive), healthcare (DETAX, Uroviva, Dermatologikum Hamburg), education and training (Education Group, ACADEMY), travel (Leitner), software/technology (PikeTec, YellowFox, MediFox), telematics, language services (Apostroph, WIENERS+WIENERS) and environmental technology (SIS, ETS Group), with over 50 companies invested in and exited since inception.
ECM's business model is that of a classic closed-end private equity manager: revenue is generated through management fees on committed or invested fund capital (industry-standard ~1.5-2.0% annually) and through carried interest — typically 20% above a preferred-return hurdle — on profitable exits. Distribution is conducted through direct, relationship-based deal sourcing with founders, families and corporates across the DACH Mittelstand, with investment decisions made collectively by the partner team in a process the firm describes as fast, flexible and pragmatic. Recent realized exits include PikeTec (sold to Synopsys, August 2023), Apostroph (sold to TransPerfect, February 2025), Uroviva (sold to Affidea, April 2025), Intermate Group (sold to SAMY Alliance, April 2025), DATAPART Factoring (sold to IK Partners, May 2025) and YellowFox (October 2025). The firm is led by Managing Directors Axel Eichmeyer, Florian Kähler and Christopher L. Peisch, with a team of approximately 15 investment professionals, and is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
ECM Equity Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ECM Equity Capital
- Legal name
- ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH
- Website
- http://www.ecm-pe.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ECM Equity Capital is an independent Frankfurt-based private equity firm founded in 1995 that manages the German Equity Partners (GEP) fund series, investing in mid-sized DACH companies through ownership successions, partnership deals, and corporate spin-offs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ECM Equity Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Investment Management
- NAICS
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)
Keywords
Where ECM Equity Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ECM Equity Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Fund Management: ECM manages private equity funds (GEP I-V) investing in mid-sized companies. Revenue generated through management fees and carried interest from successful exits.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
ECM Equity Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH is an independent German private equity firm that invests in mid-sized companies (Mittelstand) in German-speaking Europe. Since 1995, ECM has raised five private equity funds (German Equity Partners GEP I-V) with aggregate equity commitments exceeding €1 billion, currently investing from GEP V (€325 million). The firm provides growth capital, partnership investments, and buy-out solutions — primarily majority stake acquisitions in the context of ownership successions, partnership transactions, and corporate spin-offs.
Product overview
ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH is a German private equity firm that serves as a trusted growth partner for mid-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs in German-speaking Europe. Since 1995, ECM has raised private equity funds GEP I-V with aggregate equity commitments of more than €1 billion and currently invests out of its fifth fund GEP V (€325 million). The funds invest primarily in leading mid-market companies with attractive growth potential in the context of ownership successions, partnership transactions, and corporate spin-offs. ECM does not offer a technology product; rather, it provides equity capital investment and partnership services to portfolio companies. The company website serves as an informational and news portal rather than a product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- German Equity Partners (GEP): ECM's brand for its series of private equity funds (GEP I through GEP V) that invest in mid-sized companies in German-speaking Europe.
Products and services
- German Equity Partners (GEP) Private Equity Funds A series of closed-end private equity funds raised from institutional limited partners that invest in majority stakes of mid-sized companies in the DACH region across ownership successions, partnership investments, and corporate spin-offs.
- German Equity Partners IV (GEP IV) Fourth private equity fund managed by ECM with €230 million in committed capital, focused on majority investments in mid-sized enterprises in the DACH region.
- German Equity Partners V (GEP V) Fifth and current private equity fund managed by ECM, closed at hard cap of €325 million, investing in leading mid-market companies with attractive growth potential in German-speaking Europe.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ companies as investments and acquisitions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ECM Equity Capital
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ECM Equity Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ECM Equity Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- One HiringcorePartnership investment in One Hiring, a talent acquisition platform based in Düsseldorf automating and enhancing talent recruitment across Germany, UK, and US. Drake Star advised on the partnership.
- Education GroupcoreGEP V invested in Education Group, the leading provider of Aus- und Weiterbildungen (education and training) in the mobility sector operating at 400+ locations in Germany.
- Intermate GroupcorePartnership investment in Intermate Group, a company focused on viral growth strategies and social media marketing services.
- ETS GroupcoreEuropean market and technology leader in environmental technologies, acquired IVOC-X GmbH specializing in air purification systems.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ECM Equity Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paragon Partners: Germany-focused mid-market PE firm specializing in succession and growth capital investments in Mittelstand companies. Directly comparable in target deal profile (DACH mid-market, founder-owned businesses) and fund size range.
- Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG): Frankfurt-listed private equity firm focused on mid-market Mittelstand companies in Germany. Directly comparable to ECM in target customer profile (DACH mid-market), investment style (MBOs, growth capital, succession), and fund size range. Both firms are headquartered in Frankfurt and have decades-long DACH track records.
- IK Partners: Pan-European mid-market PE firm with €19B+ AUM, headquartered in London with a strong DACH focus. Directly comparable as a buyer/seller in the same Mittelstadt ecosystem (IK acquired DATAPART from ECM) and competes for similar succession and partnership deals in DACH.
- PINOVA Capital: Munich-based private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and industrial Mittelstand companies in German-speaking regions. Directly comparable as a co-investor partner (consortium with ECM on DETAX) and as a competitor for similar succession-driven transactions.
- Equistone Partners Europe: Pan-European mid-market PE firm with a strong DACH franchise and tradition of investing in Mittelstand ownership successions. Directly comparable in target deal size, sector breadth, and DACH regional focus, though with broader European reach and larger fund vehicles.
- Bencis Capital Partners: Dutch-headquartered mid-market PE firm with strong DACH and Benelux coverage investing in succession and partnership transactions. Comparable in deal size, regional orientation toward Northern European Mittelstand, and BPO/services sector exposure.
- capiton AG: Berlin-based mid-market PE firm focused on succession and growth investments in German Mittelstand companies. Directly comparable in deal profile, regional focus, and fund size range, with multiple active fund vintages.
- Auctus Capital Partners: Munich-based PE firm focused exclusively on the German-speaking Mittelstand. Directly comparable in target customer base (DACH mid-market, succession situations) and operates in a similar fund-size bracket.
- Halder (Gimv subsidiary): Frankfurt-based mid-market PE firm with a German Mittelstand focus. Directly comparable in geographic positioning (Frankfurt, DACH), sector breadth, and target deal size for ownership successions and growth capital.
Broad incumbents
- Hg (Hg Capital): London-headquartered PE firm specializing in software and services investments across Europe (acquired MediFox from ECM). A meaningful counterparty and partially overlapping in DACH mid-market software/services investing, though Hg operates a much larger fund platform and broader sector mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ECM Equity Capital social profiles
Digital presenceECM Equity Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ECM Equity Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
ECM Equity Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ECM Equity Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A23 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ECM Equity Capital
What does ECM Equity Capital do?
ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH is an independent German private equity firm that invests in mid-sized companies (Mittelstand) in German-speaking Europe. Since 1995, ECM has raised five private equity funds (German Equity Partners GEP I-V) with aggregate equity commitments exceeding €1 billion, currently investing from GEP V (€325 million). The firm provides growth capital, partnership investments, and buy-out solutions — primarily majority stake acquisitions in the context of ownership successions, partnership transactions, and corporate spin-offs.
Is ECM Equity Capital a public or private company?
ECM Equity Capital is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was ECM Equity Capital founded?
ECM Equity Capital was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ECM Equity Capital based?
ECM Equity Capital is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ECM Equity Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Fund Management.
Who are ECM Equity Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paragon Partners, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG), IK Partners, PINOVA Capital, Equistone Partners Europe, Bencis Capital Partners, capiton AG, Auctus Capital Partners and Halder (Gimv subsidiary). Hg (Hg Capital) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ECM Equity Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for ECM Equity Capital.
What industry is ECM Equity Capital in?
ECM Equity Capital's product category is Private Equity / Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAE, Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital), with a secondary code of FSAEAGAC, Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked). Its NAICS code is 523 and its SIC code is 6211.