Deutsche Private Equity closes €708 million continuation fund

German private equity firm Deutsche Private Equity (DPE) has announced the close of its fund with €708 million. The DPE Continuation Fund I (DPE CF I) backed Eraneos Group and valantic to establish both the companies as DACH region’s leading technology and digital transformation consultancies.

According to the company, Eraneos and valantic have increased their revenues by over 270% and 240%, respectively, under DPE’s ownership, while completing over 20 add-on acquisitions combined. DPE CF I will continue this investment strategy, deploying additional capital that has been raised in this transaction across a number of value-accretive add-on transactions and broader organic growth initiatives. 

The fund was led by AlpInvest Partners, HarbourVest Partners and Pantheon Ventures, alongside several further new and existing investors.

Founded in 2007, DPE invests in SMEs across Germany, Austria and Switzerland and focuses on medium-sized companies that are active in sectors with a positive long-term development perspective. The company has invested in 36 companies which have performed over 100 add-on acquisitions and has total assets under management of €3 billion.

Marc Thiery, managing partner at DPE, said: “We are delighted to have successfully raised DPE CF I and to finance the next chapter of value creation for Eraneos and valantic. There is a significant opportunity for further growth at both companies, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with the outstanding management teams we have in place.”

Guido Prehn, managing director at DPE said: “We are excited about the next stage of our ownership in Eraneos and valantic, and to continue to advise on their future expansion. Additionally, we are very happy to have generated such strong returns for DPE Fund III investors and are honored to have secured the backing of a first-class group of investors in the continuation fund.”