Family Trust Investor

What Family Trust Investor does

Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH is a Munich-based private equity firm founded in 2015/2016 that invests in profitable mid-market companies (Mittelstand) across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The firm pursues a growth-oriented investment strategy through active operational support, deploying equity in the low double-digit millions per company with additional co-investment capacity, and implementing buy & build concepts in fragmented markets alongside age-related succession solutions for family-owned businesses. Target companies typically generate EUR 10M to EUR 50M+ in revenue and span diverse verticals including precision tools, plumbing/HVAC, packaging, upholstered furniture, IT services, bouldering gyms, industrial sensors, air purification distribution, and installation services.

The firm is operationally led by four partners and supported by investment managers, a finance director, and a business development manager, with combined headcount of approximately 9-11 people. The platform has executed more than 20 transactions and over EUR 250 million in transaction volume, with portfolio companies generating combined revenue exceeding EUR 300 million. Operating entities include Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH (the BaFin-regulated alternative investment fund manager) and Family Trust Advisory FTA GmbH. The capital base was expanded in Q3 2018 through the formation of Family Trust Beteiligungsholding, with firmly committed equity from institutional investors, family offices, wealthy entrepreneurial families, and private individuals.

Family Trust generates revenue through management fees on committed capital (typical of a regulated KAGB fund manager) plus carried interest on investment returns above preferred return thresholds, with fees negotiated privately with investors rather than publicly disclosed. Notable value-creation outcomes include the Pertler Group growing from 86 employees and EUR 10M revenue (2017) to over 111 employees and EUR 30M revenue (2024), Urban Apes scaling from 3 bouldering halls (2020) to 18 locations as Germany's largest bouldering gym chain, and the successful exits of Hobe Micro Tools (sold to Sweden's Indutrade in 2023) and the Novia Group (sold to Sweden's Bufab AB in October 2025). The firm maintains ESG commitments including UNPRI signatory status, Women's Empowerment Principles support, and SFDR-aligned sustainability disclosures.

Name

Family Trust Investor

Legal name

Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH

Website

https://familytrust.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH is a Munich-based private equity firm founded in 2015/2016 that invests equity in profitable mid-sized Mittelstand companies across the DACH region, executing buy & build strategies and family business succession solutions under BaFin supervision as a KAGB-regulated alternative investment fund manager.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Office Investment Platforms & Direct Investing (PE/VC/Co-Invest) (FSAAADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Business & Succession Advisory (FSAAADAL)

Keywords

• Private equity investing
• Mittelstand buy-and-build
• Family business succession
• Growth capital investment
• DACH mid-market

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Family Trust operates as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the German Investment Code (KAGB). They charge management fees on committed capital as a registered external capital management company under BaFin supervision.
2. Performance Fees / Carried Interest: As a private equity firm, Family Trust earns carried interest on investment returns above preferred return thresholds. The firm raised committed equity capital through a new investment holding company in Q3/2018 with institutional investors, family offices, wealthy entrepreneurial families, and private individuals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Family Trust Investor is a Munich-based private equity firm that invests equity capital in successful and above-average profitable medium-sized companies in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The firm deploys low double-digit millions of equity per company with additional co-investment capacity, supports management teams through hands-on operational involvement, and pursues buy-and-build strategies in fragmented markets as well as age-related succession solutions for family-owned businesses. It operates as a BaFin-regulated alternative investment fund manager under the German Investment Code (KAGB), earning revenue through management fees and carried interest on committed capital raised from institutional investors, family offices, wealthy entrepreneurial families, and private individuals.

Product overview

Family Trust Investor is a private equity firm that operates as a growth-oriented investment company focused on the profitable mid-market in the DACH region. Rather than offering a software product, the company provides investment management services through its core platform, deploying capital in successful and above-average profitable medium-sized companies via buy & build concepts in fragmented markets and age-related succession planning scenarios. The firm differentiates itself through strong operational expertise and active partnership with portfolio company management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Growth-Oriented Equity Investment for DACH Mittelstand Companies Family Trust deploys equity capital of low double-digit millions per company in successful, above-average profitable medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The service combines growth capital with hands-on operational support, buy-and-build strategy execution in fragmented markets, and active partnership with management teams. Investments are structured through Family Trust Beteiligungsholding as majority or significant minority stakes, with additional co-investment capacity from institutional and family-office limited partners.
• Family Business Succession Investment Solutions Family Trust acquires companies as a long-term partner for family-owned Mittelstand businesses facing generational succession without clear internal successors. The service supports the continuation of company legacy and culture while professionalizing operations, and includes structured co-investment arrangements that allow selling families to retain participation alongside the Family Trust team. Examples include the Hobe GmbH acquisition in 2016 and the Ernst Pertler acquisition in 2017.
• BaFin-Regulated Fund Management Services (Alternative Investment Fund Manager under KAGB) Family Trust Investor FTI GmbH operates as a BaFin-regulated external capital management company (alternative investment fund manager) under the German Investment Code (KAGB), managing committed capital from institutional investors, family offices, wealthy entrepreneurial families, and private individuals for deployment into DACH Mittelstand companies. The service includes ESG-aligned investment management under UN PRI and SFDR disclosure frameworks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family Trust completed >20 transactions with >250M EUR transaction volume, and portfolio companies generate >300M EUR combined revenue.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Walter GruppecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Family Trust and the Walter Gruppe, based in Berlin, entered into a long-term partnership. The announcement was made in June 2026 on the Family Trust website under 'Aktuelles' news section.
• AIS GmbH and ISK GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 September 2025Family Trust acquired 100% of the shares in the future AISCON Group, consisting of AIS GmbH (one of Europe's leading distributors of industrial connectors) and ISK GmbH (specializing in mechanical and electronic finishing and customization of connectors).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aurelius SE: Listed Munich-based mid-market investor focused on European Mittelstand carve-outs, succession situations and operational turnarounds. Senior Partner Carsten Abdel Hadi previously invested at Aurelius, making it a direct comparable for deal type, geography and approach.
• Afinum Management GmbH: Munich/Zurich-based mid-market PE firm investing in profitable German Mittelstand companies, often via succession transactions. Carsten Abdel Hadi was previously part of the Afinum investment team, making it a near-clone comparable in geography and target profile.
• Paragon Partners: Munich-based independent mid-market PE firm investing in succession and growth situations across the German Mittelstand. Directly comparable in target company profile (family-owned, EUR 10-100M revenue) and DACH-only geography.
• Nord Holding Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaft mbH: Hannover-based mid-market PE firm investing in German Mittelstand succession, buy & build and growth situations. Comparable deal sizes and focus on operational value creation in family-owned businesses.
• capiton AG: Berlin-based mid-market PE firm focused on succession solutions and growth capital for German Mittelstand companies. Comparable in equity ticket size, succession focus and DACH geographic mandate.
• Hannover Finanz GmbH: Hannover-based privately-held investment company investing in succession and growth situations in the German Mittelstand. Closely comparable as an independent, family-influenced mid-market platform with similar deal sourcing channels.
• EMERAM Capital Partners: Munich-based independent mid-market PE firm investing in German Mittelstand companies with a focus on succession, growth and buy & build. Comparable geography, deal size and value-creation playbook.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG): Frankfurt-listed PE firm focused on mid-market companies in Germany and adjacent regions. A broader incumbent with significantly larger AUM and longer track record, but overlapping Mittelstand succession and buy & build thesis.
• Gimv NV: Belgian-listed European mid-market investment company with a DACH platform. Multiple Family Trust team members (Friedrich Wallwitz, Annalisa Zeyda) previously worked at Gimv, making it a credible comparable for mid-market succession investing.

Emerging players

• Orlando Management AG: Munich-based investment company focused on German Mittelstand succession and special situations. Partner Andreas Augustin previously led Orlando's portfolio companies, making it a directly comparable emerging/niche player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-trust-investor-fti-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Family Trust Investor