Novum Capital
Novum Capital is a Frankfurt-based independent private equity firm, founded in 2006, that manages €300M across three funds for German and international pension funds, Versorgungswerke, and endowments. It invests in succession situations, carve-outs, and growth capital for Mittelstand companies with up to €200M in revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Novum Capital does
Novum Capital is an independent, owner-managed private equity firm headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 2006 by Dr. Udo von Klot-Heydenfeldt and Felix Hölzer. The firm invests capital from German and international pension funds, Versorgungswerke, and endowments into small and medium-sized companies — primarily German Mittelstand firms with annual revenues of up to €200 million and minimum EBITDA of €5 million — with a focus on succession solutions, carve-outs, and majority or minority growth capital situations. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, sourcing deals through an in-house investment team and a network of approximately 40 active-CEO Operating Partners, and executing via direct negotiation or co-investment (e.g., O3 Industries on Gumtree/Motors).
The firm manages €300 million in assets across three institutional vehicles: Fund I (2017, €75M), Fund II (2021, €150M), and Media Fund I (2022, ~€75M), the last created as a continuation vehicle for MMC Studios with DWS as anchor investor. Revenue is generated through standard private equity mechanics — management fees on committed/invested capital and carried interest on exits — and is not publicly disclosed. The current active portfolio includes HECHT Contactlinsen (acquired August 2024), MOTORS/Cazoo (UK automotive classifieds), MMC Studios/Crosscast/Magic Eye (media production at the Coloneum complex in Cologne), with exits completed in 2024 (Gumtree to Ocean Link/58.com) and across 2019–2021 (VulkaTec, Schluckwerder, C.C. Umwelt, PsoriSol). The firm is registered as a Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft under the KAGB and files SFDR-aligned ESG disclosures.
Novum Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Novum Capital
- Legal name
- Novum Capital Management GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://novumcapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Novum Capital is a Frankfurt-based independent private equity firm, founded in 2006, that manages €300M across three funds for German and international pension funds, Versorgungswerke, and endowments. It invests in succession situations, carve-outs, and growth capital for Mittelstand companies with up to €200M in revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Novum Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Fund Management
- NAICS
- Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching) (FSAEALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Placement, JV & Recapitalization) (BPAJABAL)
Keywords
Where Novum Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Novum Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fund Management: Novum Capital manages private equity funds with assets under management of 300 million euros across Fund I (2017, 75m EUR), Fund II (2021, 150m EUR), and Media Fund (2022). Revenue is generated through management fees and carried interest from successful portfolio company exits.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Novum Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Novum Capital is an independent, owner-managed private equity firm that manages institutional funds investing in small and medium-sized companies with annual revenues of up to 200 million euros and minimum EBITDA of 5 million euros. The firm acquires majority and minority stakes focused on succession planning, carve-outs, and growth financing, deploying both capital and operational know-how to improve market position, profitability, and company value.
Product overview
Novum Capital is a Frankfurt-based private equity firm that does not offer a unified software product or platform. Instead, it manages a portfolio of acquired companies across diverse industries including automotive classifieds (MOTORS, Cazoo, Gumtree), healthcare (HECHT Contactlinsen), and entertainment/media (MMC Studios, Crosscast). These are operating companies, not technology products or SaaS offerings. The company does not develop or sell software products with APIs, integrations, or AI capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Novum Capital Fund I First institutional private equity fund with 75 million euros in commitments, deployed across medium-sized companies for succession solutions, carve-outs, and growth financing. Available to German and international institutional investors such as pension funds, Versorgungswerke, and endowments as Limited Partners.
- Novum Capital Fund II Second institutional private equity fund with 150 million euros in commitments, used to invest in medium-sized companies and to fund acquisitions such as the carve-out of Gumtree UK and Motors.co.uk from Adevinta. Offered to German and international institutional investors as Limited Partners.
- Novum Capital Media Fund I Continuation vehicle for the MMC Studios investment, structured to enable further acquisitions in the film and media business. DWS, Germany's largest investment fund company's private equity division, acted as anchor investor; Stephens and Acanthus advised on the vehicle's setup.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% revenue growth achieved at VulkaTec during investment period
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Novum Capital
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Novum Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Novum Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Novum Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG): Frankfurt-headquartered, listed PE firm focused on German Mittelstand succession and buy-and-build. Same target segment (revenues roughly €50-200M), same Frankfurt ecosystem and same LP base of pensions and family offices, making it the closest comparable.
- Equistone Partners Europe: Pan-European mid-market PE sponsor historically rooted in the German Mittelstand. Invests with similar equity tickets in succession situations and corporate carve-outs across DACH, directly competing with Novum Capital for the same deals.
- Paragon Partners: Munich-based independent buyout firm investing in succession-led Mittelstand transactions typically with €50-250M in revenue. Highly comparable in fund size, sector diversification, and target company profile to Novum Capital.
- capiton AG: Owner-managed Frankfurt PE firm investing in succession situations and growth at German Mittelstand companies. Comparable in size, philosophy, and exclusive focus on DACH succession-driven mid-market buyouts.
- Halder (division of Berenberg): Frankfurt-based PE investor within Berenberg focused on German SMEs and succession-driven buyouts. Closely comparable in fund size, Mittelstand focus, and Frankfurt-based owner-managed culture.
- Auctus Capital Partners: Munich-based independent PE firm focused on German Mittelstand succession and growth investments, typically with revenues up to €200M. Highly comparable target screen, ticket size, and operating approach.
- Bencis Capital Partners: Benelux- and DACH-focused mid-market PE sponsor with German operations, investing in succession and corporate carve-out situations. Overlapping target segment and ticket size to Novum Capital.
- EMERAM Capital Partners: Hamburg/Munich-based independent PE firm investing in mid-cap DACH Mittelstand companies in succession or carve-out situations. Comparable in fund size and target company profile, with overlapping LP base across German institutional investors.
Broad incumbents
- Triton Partners: Frankfurt-based pan-European mid- and upper-mid-market PE firm with substantially larger AUM and broader sector remit. Overlaps with Novum on DACH mid-market deals but is a broader incumbent rather than a Mittelstand specialist.
- 3i Group plc: Listed European mid-market PE investor with active DACH franchise targeting mid-size succession and buyout situations. Comparable in target company profile but materially larger, more diversified, and publicly listed.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Novum Capital social profiles
Digital presenceNovum Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Novum Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Novum Capital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Novum Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Novum Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Novum Capital
What does Novum Capital do?
Novum Capital is an independent, owner-managed private equity firm that manages institutional funds investing in small and medium-sized companies with annual revenues of up to 200 million euros and minimum EBITDA of 5 million euros. The firm acquires majority and minority stakes focused on succession planning, carve-outs, and growth financing, deploying both capital and operational know-how to improve market position, profitability, and company value.
Is Novum Capital a public or private company?
Novum Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Novum Capital founded?
Novum Capital was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Novum Capital based?
Novum Capital is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Novum Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: fund Management.
Who are Novum Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG), Equistone Partners Europe, Paragon Partners, capiton AG, Halder (division of Berenberg), Auctus Capital Partners, Bencis Capital Partners and EMERAM Capital Partners. Broad incumbents are Triton Partners and 3i Group plc.
Does Novum Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Novum Capital.
What industry is Novum Capital in?
Novum Capital's product category is Private Equity Fund Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEALAI, Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching), with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 525 and its SIC code is 6282.