Manser Group

What Manser Group does

Manser Group AG is a 100% family-owned Swiss holding company headquartered in Arbon, Canton Thurgau, that takes long-term ownership stakes in Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and succession solutions. The group operates through three divisions — Immobilien & Bau (real estate and construction, including METHABAU Gruppe, LIGNOX, BKG Architekten, MOOI Apartments, and multiple property-holding entities), Technologie (industrial tools and machinery via TAFF TOOL and Manser Handwerkercenter, rope and lifting technology via Fortatech, and power electronics via APS Applied Power Systems), and Investments & Services (Clever Sports operating 23 clever fit fitness studios, Swiss Hyaluronic, Baltic beauty supplements, Physio Next, and the VRAUU energy drink). Underlying technology is diverse and largely industrial rather than software-native, spanning mechanical and electronic industrial solutions, BIM-based digital construction methodology (with over 20 years of METHABAU experience), rope and lifting technology production, and power electronics for sustainable mobility on rail and road.

The business model is that of an operating holding: Manser takes long-duration majority or full ownership positions, provides centralized shared services (finance, administration, logistics, IT, group management coordination) through Manser Management AG, and generates returns through dividends, capital gains, and operational profits of its 20+ portfolio companies. End customers are heterogeneous — B2B industrial buyers (TAFF TOOL, Fortatech, APS), B2B construction clients (METHABAU general/total contracting, LIGNOX wood construction), and B2C consumers (clever fit fitness memberships, MOOI serviced apartments, Baltic supplements). Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct relationships, industry reputation, and network referrals rather than broad marketing campaigns. The group reports approximately 900 sustainable jobs (including ~50 apprentices) and an asset volume of several hundred million Swiss francs, with no external institutional investors or public listing. Geographic footprint is primarily Switzerland, with a 2024 expansion into Germany via Manser International GmbH.

Name

Manser Group

Legal name

Manser Group AG

Website

https://mansergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Manser Group AG is a 100% family-owned Swiss holding company that takes long-term ownership stakes in 20+ SMEs and succession-solution businesses across real estate & construction, industrial technology, and health & lifestyle, serving both B2B industrial buyers and Swiss B2C consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Goldach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Holdings: The company generates value through ownership stakes in over 20 subsidiary companies across three divisions. Revenue comes from dividends, capital gains, and operational profits of portfolio companies.
2. Division Operations: Direct operational revenue from Immobilien & Bau (real estate development and construction), Technologie (tools, machinery, rope technology, power electronics), and Investments & Services (fitness, health, lifestyle brands)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Manser Group AG is a 100% owner-managed Swiss holding and participation company that invests long-term in SMEs, start-ups and succession solutions across three operating divisions. Through more than 20 wholly-owned subsidiaries the group develops, builds and operates real-estate and construction projects (METHABAU Gruppe, LIGNOX, MOOI Apartments, BKG Architekten, Oswald & Sorge Partner), distributes industrial tools, machines, rope and lifting technology and power electronics (TAFF TOOL, Manser Handwerkercenter, Fortatech, APS Applied Power Systems), and runs consumer health-and-lifestyle participations such as fitness studios, physiotherapy, beauty supplements and an energy drink.

Product overview

Manser Group AG operates as a diversified Swiss holding company with three divisions: Technology (industrial tools, power electronics, rope technology), Real Estate & Construction (construction, architecture, modular wood building, serviced apartments), and Investments & Services (fitness studios, health products, physiotherapy). The group comprises over 20 subsidiaries including TAFF TOOL AG, METHABAU Gruppe, LIGNOX, MOOI Apartments, clever fit, and Swiss Hyaluronic AG, united under a centralized holding structure with shared management services through Manser Management AG.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clever fit Schweiz: Fitness studio chain operating 23 Qualitop-certified fitness studios in Switzerland offering strength and endurance equipment, digital training areas, and group fitness courses.
• Swiss Hyaluronic
• Baltic
• Physio Next
• VRAUU
• Manser Handwerkercenter
• TAFF TOOL
• Stahlux
• APS Applied Power Systems
• Fortatech Gruppe
• METHABAU Gruppe
• LIGNOX
• MOOI Apartments
• BKG Architekten

Products and services

• METHABAU Gruppe (construction, planning and general/total contracting) Competent and innovative partner for the development, planning and execution of residential and commercial buildings, with over 20 years of experience in digital construction using BIM methodology. Operates as the group's general and total contractor.
• LIGNOX (modular and system wood construction) Wood construction company with a long tradition in timber system construction, timber modular construction and technical cabins using CO2-binding raw material wood. Acts as one of the leading general/total contractors for residential, commercial and educational buildings.
• MOOI Apartments (serviced apartments) Specialized in renting first-class furnished and equipped serviced apartments in Switzerland, with harmonious design concepts and high functionality. Complete digitization and automation enable smooth 24/7 service for business travelers and temporary residents.
• BKG Architekten (architecture and planning) Architecture firm in Zürich offering architecture and planning, property analyses, photovoltaic facades, fire protection planning, renovations, maintenance work and client consulting.
• Oswald & Sorge Partner (real estate consulting) Specialized provider of comprehensive real estate services, from valuation and brokerage through development to digital support in property management.
• METHABAU Immobilien (real estate ownership) Reliable real estate owner for the group's own portfolio of residential and commercial properties, geographically optimally diversified.
• Manser Handwerkercenter (tools, cleaning and vehicle equipment for SMEs/trades) Comprehensive partner for SMEs and trades, offering high-quality tools, cleaning systems, equipment and vehicle installations along with specialist advice, workshop and repair services.
• TAFF TOOL (machines and tools for the metalworking industry) Specialized in machines, tools and operational equipment for industry and trade, offering comprehensive spare parts service, repairs and expert advice. Includes the Stahlux own-brand tool line launched in 1995.
• APS Applied Power Systems (power electronics for sustainable mobility) Power electronics specialist offering high-tech products and solutions for sustainable mobility on rail and road, including on-board network converters, battery chargers, DC/DC converters and charging infrastructure systems.
• Fortatech (Bowden cables, tension ropes, fine ropes and push-pull cables) Developer and producer of high-quality Bowden cables, tension ropes, fine ropes and push-pull cables for industry, in single pieces or large series, with express delivery and individual development.
• Manser International GmbH (German group operations) German subsidiary operating the group's business in Germany across the divisions Immobilien & Bau, Technologie, and Investments & Services.
• clever fit Schweiz (fitness studio chain) Operates 23 state-of-the-art Qualitop-certified fitness studios in Switzerland, offering strength and endurance equipment, digital training areas and diverse group fitness courses.
• Swiss Hyaluronic (hyaluronic acid raw materials) Specialized in the development, manufacture and distribution of high-quality hyaluronic acid raw materials, offering scientifically based, natural and versatile products for cosmetics, food supplements, medicine and functional food.
• Baltic (beauty food supplements) Innovative beauty food supplements that moisturize and nourish skin, nails, hair and joints from within.
• Physio Next (physiotherapy and medical training therapy) Physio clinics combining physiotherapy, medical training therapy (MTT), shockwave therapy and massages under one roof, individually and interdisciplinary.
• VRAUU (energy drink) Energy drink combining unique taste and quality from Austria with the lifestyle and rhythm of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Clever Sports AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017As exclusive Swiss franchise partner of clever fit fitness brand, Clever Sports AG operates 23 fitness studios across Switzerland. Qualitytop certified facilities offering strength and endurance equipment, digital training areas, and group fitness courses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INVISION AG: Swiss investor in industrial and technology SMEs, taking long-term majority or minority stakes with active operating involvement — the closest structural analog to Manser's owner-managed holding model and Mittelstand succession focus.
• Schweiter Technologies AG: Swiss family-controlled industrial holding (3M Solutions, STEINER, BekaertProfin) bundling diverse manufacturing operations under one listed parent, directly comparable in the diversified-industrial-holding and Central European ownership structure.
• Arbonia AG: Swiss-listed building products and solutions holding serving European residential and commercial construction — closely comparable to Manser's Immobilien & Bau division (METHABAU, LIGNOX, BKG Architekten) in end markets, geography, and operating model.
• Feintool International Holding AG: Swiss-listed, family-influenced holding focused on fineblanking and electric-drive technology — an analogous owner-influenced Swiss industrial holding with multiple operating entities and strong Mittelstand DNA.
• Mikron Holding AG: Swiss-listed industrial holding serving the automotive, pharmaceutical, and writing-instrument industries from multiple sites in Switzerland and abroad — directly comparable in scale, founder-family governance, and multi-segment structure.
• Burckhardt Compression Holding AG: Swiss-listed, family-influenced industrial holding selling compressors and services globally — same Swiss industrial Mittelstand archetype and similar multi-decade founder-family ownership profile.
• Starrag Group Holding AG: Swiss-listed holding providing high-precision machine tools, comparable in industrial-tooling end market (adjacent to TAFF TOOL AG), Swiss Mittelstand ownership culture, and holding structure with multiple operating sites.

Broad incumbents

• SIG Group AG: Large Swiss-listed packaging/food-processing holding — operates at materially larger scale than Manser but offers the closest publicly-listed reference point for a Swiss industrial multi-division holding with international reach.

Others

• capiton AG: German private equity manager focused on succession and Mittelstand buyouts across the DACH region — directly comparable as a capital provider for the same succession segment Manser targets with Dorana AG and Manser Projekt I AG.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manser-group-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Manser Group