Montagu Private Equity has inked a deal to acquire investment managers Universal-Investment.
The pan-European private equity firm signed a definitive agreement with Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and Bankhaus Lampe KG to buy their stakes in the Frankfurt-based investment company for an undisclosed sum.
Universal-Investment, which has €280 bn in assets under administration largely achieved through general wealth agglomeration, more recently expanded into real estate and alternative investments. To date, Universal-Investment has structured real estate projects for institutional investors worth more than €6 bn as well as projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, private equity and private debt worth more than €15 bn. It quadrupled its assets in the last ten years to become the largest independent investment company in the German-speaking region.
'Our recipe for success includes our employees’ commitment and expertise, our independence as well as our distinct business model as leading Master-KVG platform. That’s why we’re especially excited to have found a new partner and owner in Montagu, which will continue to actively support this strategy in future,' said Bernd Vorbeck, spokesman of the management board of Universal-Investment.
'For more than 45 years, Universal-Investment has been a pioneer in the investment industry and the benchmark for servicing master funds (Master-KVG) and private label funds. We’re particularly impressed by the performance of the management team, which has developed Universal-Investment into a growing platform with an outstanding reputation. We’re excited to work closely with Bernd Vorbeck and his team going forward, accompanying them through the company’s next growth phase,' said Daniel Fischer, director at Montagu Private Equity.
Following the acquisition of Swiss-based Equatex from UBS in 2015, Universal-Investment represents Montagu’s second investment in the financial services sector in the German-speaking region.
The completion is subject to regulatory approval.
