About us

Lafayette Mittelstand Capital

Statement

Mission & Vision

Lafayette invests in companies with fundamentally attractive positioning at turning points in their development

Such as corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, growth situations, and other capital-intensive special situations. We strive for above-average, risk-reduced financial returns.

Lafayette achieves this by focusing on the concrete identification of optimization and growth potential, risk reduction, and providing active support to company management. We pursue a long-term approach and are not burdened by short-term exit pressure, which in many cases is a decisive advantage for success.

Profitability with prudence

Achieving first-class financial performance for its investors while carefully managing risk and mitigating downside potential. Lafayette uses a comprehensive risk management framework to protect investments and secure investor capital.

Sustainable Growth

Lafayette believes in the long-term value creation potential of strong ESG practices. We work closely with our portfolio companies to implement first-class initiatives for environmental sustainability, promote social responsibility, and achieve outstanding standards of corporate governance.

Corporate Governance

Lafayette is committed to robust corporate governance within its portfolio companies in order to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation for shareholders.

Impact Assessment

Lafayette attaches great importance to measurable impact. We track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to financial returns, job creation, and ESG progress.

Investment Strategies

Key Facts

Our investment strategy at a glance

Experienced partners for sustainable value growth. Lafayette invests in attractive medium-sized companies in special situations and focuses on value-oriented investments with careful and solution-oriented risk assessment. The focus is on the DACH region and neighboring markets. With investments of up to €50 million in equity capital, a broad network of experts, and cross-industry experience, Lafayette creates long-term success.

Investment Approach

We seek investment opportunities in fundamentally attractive Mittelstand (mid-market) companies in special situations (e.g., corporate carve-outs, capital-intensive growth phases, recapitalizations, and other special cases). Our focus remains on risk mitigation through diligent due diligence and a value-oriented investment approach based on our specific criteria.

Geographic Focus

We leverage our deep regional expertise to identify and unlock opportunities in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and selected adjacent markets (particularly the Benelux countries, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Northern Italy).

Investment Volume

We typically invest up to € 15 million in equity from Lafayette’s core funds and can provide additional equity of up to € 50 million with the support of our Limited Partners.

Partnership with Top Management Teams

Experienced management teams are the key to success. We prefer management teams as true equity partners in every one of our company acquisitions.

Team Expertise

Lafayette Mittelstand Capital possesses more than a decade of successful investment experience across a variety of situations. The Lafayette team advises Lafayette’s Luxembourg funds on investments and the business plans of portfolio companies. Our team members bring long-standing experience from leading firms in the fields of consulting, banking, industry, and services.

Criteria

Investment Criteria

Clear criteria for
sustainable investments

Focus on value enhancement and future potential. Lafayette invests in companies with revenues of €20–500 million in the DACH region and neighboring markets. We focus on companies with unique selling points and sustainable growth potential in sectors such as industrial manufacturing, business services, and health & lifestyle.

Health & Lifestyle

Lafayette invests in companies in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical technology, and fitness and wellness sectors. We support innovative business models with high-quality products and services that contribute to healthcare and enable sustainable growth in the industry.

Current or former investments:
ACISO, Bischoff & Bischoff, Argentum Pflege, Zerbst Pflege, Elixia

Business Services

Lafayette supports companies in IT services, business process outsourcing, and marketing and sales services. Our focus is on scalable, technology-based business models that increase efficiency and growth and provide essential services for companies.

Current or former investments:
4Wheels, KNISTR

Consumer Goods and Services

Lafayette invests in companies that offer health and hygiene products, food and beverages, and e-commerce solutions. We support companies with strong brands, sustainable products, and innovative distribution channels that are characterized by high demand and differentiation.

Current or former investments:
Münsterland, Kettler, Wessel Werk, World Club Dome, Sondermann-Brot

Industrial Manufacturing

Lafayette focuses on investments in automation technology, metal processing, chemicals, aerospace, construction, automotive, and mechanical engineering. We support companies that achieve sustainable competitive advantages and secure long-term success through innovation, efficiency, and technological advances.

Current or former investments:
Mdexx, Wecubex, Geba, PPM, Wessel Werk, BBS, Möbelwerk3, Diametal

Media, IT & Technology

Lafayette supports companies in software and hardware development, telecommunications, digital media, and streaming. We invest specifically in innovative business models that drive new technologies and digital solutions to enable sustainable value creation and long-term growth.

Current or former investments:
World Club Dome, KNISTR, Lehmanns Media, Facts Verlag

Sustainable Industries

Lafayettefocuses on renewable energies, electromobility, recycling, and gray-to-green transformations. We invest specifically in companies that create long-term ecological and economic value with sustainable technologies and resource-saving solutions and actively shape change.

Current or former investments:
Jurchen, Geba

Value-oriented investments

Differentiation

Our edge over
"classic" investors

Lafayette distinguishes itself from traditional financial investors through a more flexible and operationally focused approach:

Patient Capital

We operate with a longer-term investment perspective, allowing businesses the time they need to truly transform.

True Partnership

We bring a team-player mindset and offer active, hands-on support to help management teams achieve their corporate objectives.

Unlocking Potential

We have a proven track record of "unleashing" hidden development and value-creation potential within complex organizational structures.

Conservative Financing

We utilize stable and conservative acquisition financing structures to ensure the long-term health of the company.

Speed and Decisiveness

We are capable of making rapid decisions and providing transaction certainty, even in situations where information may be incomplete or complex.

Development

Our Journey

From Vision to Impact:
A Leader in Special Situations

Lafayette’s history is defined by strategic growth, operational excellence, and a commitment to long-term impact. Explore the milestones that have shaped us into a premier DACH-focused investor.

2009

The Foundation

Driven by over 20 years of combined experience in M&A and principal investments at renowned global institutions, Lafayette was founded to become a leading DACH-focused investor for special situations. The vision was built on two core pillars: maximizing risk-adjusted returns and generating sustainable employment growth within portfolio companies.

2009-2012

Laying the Groundwork

These formative years were characterized by intensive advisory activity and targeted investments in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This successful track record laid the foundation for attracting the first external institutional investors to the Lafayette platform.

2012-2021

Institutionalization & Growth

With the launch of the first Luxembourg-based fund, larger acquisitions followed. In mid-2017, Fund II was successfully launched with approximately 10 international institutional investors, accelerating Lafayette’s growth. In early 2020, Lafayette integrated the globally recognized PRI/UNPRI ESG framework, making 80 ESG KPIs mandatory for all portfolio companies. The partnership grew to four partners during this period.

> 2022

Expansion & Evolution

Fund III launched in early 2022 with an even broader institutional investor base. The focus expanded to larger investments and neighboring European geographies. The Lafayette team grew to 10 professionals with backgrounds in production, software/hardware development, and investment banking. By 2028, the team is set to grow to 15 experts, managing a portfolio of approximately 20 companies. Sustainability has now been officially codified as the third pillar of our value creation strategy alongside returns and job growth.

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