Montagu Acquires Universal-Investment

Montagu Private Equity (Montagu), a leading European private equity firm, recently announced the signing of a definitive agreement with Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and Bankhaus Lampe KG to acquire their stakes in Frankfurt-based investment company Universal-Investment. Both parties have agreed to not disclose the financial terms and further details of the transaction. The completion is subject to regulatory approval.

With EUR 280 billion in assets under administration, more than 1,000 mandates and funds as well as 650 employees, Universal-Investment is the largest independent investment company in the German-speaking region. With its three divisions – administration, insourcing and risk management – the company focuses on the efficient and transparent administration of funds, securities, alternative asset classes and real estate. Established in 1968, Universal-Investment is headquartered in Frankfurt/Main with subsidiaries and holdings in Luxemburg and Austria. As pioneer of the investment industry Universal-Investment is today market leader in the areas of master-KVG and private label funds.

Universal-Investment has been among the fastest growing investment companies in Germany and Luxemburg, having quadrupled its administered assets from EUR 70 billion to EUR 280 billion in the previous ten years. This has been primarily driven by general wealth agglomeration and gain in market share. In addition, the company has entered into new areas of growth through its real estate and alternative investment segment. Here Universal-Investment has already structured real estate projects for institutional investors worth more than EUR 6 billion as well as projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, private equity and private debt worth more than EUR 15 billion.

The Regulatory Banking and Corporate team of Austrian law firm Brandl & Talos served in this deal as Regulatory Adviser to the buyer.