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Beyond Capital Partners Fund II portfolio company “Soft & Cloud GmbH” acquires SB Software-Broker GmbH to become the leading provider in Germany

Beyond Capital Partners Fund II portfolio company "Soft & Cloud GmbH" acquires SB Software-Broker GmbH to become the leading provider in Germany

January 2024
Frankfurt am Main

Beyond Capital Partners Fund II, a fund advised by Beyond Capital Partners GmbH, has acquired through its portfolio company Soft & Cloud GmbH 100% of the assets of SB Software-Broker GmbH. The closing of the acquisition has been accomplished at the end of December 2023.

Soft & Cloud is thus becoming the leading provider in the used standard software segment in Germany. Through the acquisition and integration of SB Software-Broker, Soft & Cloud will position itself even more broadly in the large corporate segment and will be able to access a total of around 10,000 B2B-customers. In the future, the key account sales division will be managed by Christian Dransfeld, founder and managing director of SB Software-Broker.

Together with the operational growth measures already implemented in 2023, such as the opening of the second location in Munich, the doubling of the sales team and the release of the new online portal, Soft & Cloud is in a position to continue implementing its expansion strategy in a focused manner and actively serve B2B customers from other target markets in Europe with digital solutions for used standard software in the future.

About Soft & Cloud:
Soft & Cloud is one of the leading service providers for used software licences in Germany and established itself since its inception in 2014 as innovation and technology leader along its sales strategy.
https://www.softandcloud.com

About Beyond Capital Partners:
Beyond Capital Partners is an investment company advising its funds on the acquisition of majority shareholdings in profitable Mittelstand companies in the DACH region with a focus on asset-light business models in the areas of B2B services, IT services, software, healthcare & well-being, lifestyle and entertainment. This financing is made possible through financial backing of the European Union under the Equity Facility for Growth established under Regulation (EU) No 1287/2013 of the European and the Council establishing a Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium enterprises (COSME) (2014-2020).
https://beyondcapital-partners.com/en/home

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© Beyond Capital Partners 2024

"Even after 20 years, our desire for something new has not yet been satisfied. Together with Beyond Capital Partners, we want to reach the next level, bring our agency forward, open up new target groups and locations and attract new employees.”

Alexander Osterwald,
Founder and Managing Director von ECD International

Alexander Osterwald,
Founder and Managing Director von ECD International

"For us, Beyond Capital Partners is the ideal partner, as we are pursuing the same vision – to become one of Europe's leading experiential marketing agencies"

Jörn Pfotenhauer,
Founder and Managing Director von ECD International

Jörn Pfotenhauer,
Founder and Managing Director von ECD International

Portfolio

ECD International Holding GmbH

Purchase: August 2023

Key Figures at the Time of Acquisition

EUR 10-15 Mio.
Turnover

20 %
EBITDA

25
Employees

ECD International Holding GmbH was founded by Alexander Osterwald and Jörn Pfotenhauer in Stuttgart in 2004 and is a multidisciplinary and international full-service agency with proven expertise in the premium and luxury segment. ECD International has been established for 20 years and offers a wide range of international first-class services such as brand management, live marketing, communication, creative work, guest relations and CRM programs aiming at a demanding client base. The company offers groundbreaking “money can’t buy formats” for the world’s top brands based on their methodology called Emotional Relationship Marketing (ERM).

Together with the founders and managing directors of ECD International, Beyond Capital Partners will implement a targeted organic growth strategy with selective acquisitions and thus position the agency as the first point of contact for high-end brand events in the long term.

www.ecd-international.com

Headquarters
Stuttgart

Transaction
Buy-Out, succession solution

Industry
Agency

Business Model
Agency for Experiential Marketing

Add-ons
ReachCon GmbH

Fund Generation
Beyond Capital Partners Fund III

Team
Christoph D. Kauter, Bianca Bertsch, David D. Kyratsas

Value Creation Levers

Operational Improvements
  • Expansion of digital skills (apps, AI tools)
  • Process optimization / efficiency enhancement
Organic Growth
  • Hiring new employees
  • Attracting new customers
  • Cross-selling potential with existing customers
  • Opening of new lcoations: national and international expansion
  • Diversification of service portfolio
  • Increasing brand awareness
Inorganic Growth
  • Acquisition of specialist agencies

Current Portfolio Companies

ORENDT STUDIOS Holding GmbH

B2B Services
ORENDT STUDIOS Holding GmbH is a group of companies specializing in the production and creation of marketing content for national and international branded goods and retail companies.

ECD International Holding GmbH

Agency
ECD International is a multidisciplinary and internationally active full-service agency in the premium and luxury segment and offers first-class services such as brand management, live marketing, communication, creative work, guest relations and CRM programs for a demanding target group.

 

Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen GmbH

Forestry
Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen is one of the leading forest nurseries for seedling production in Germany and has over 100 ha of cultivable land in the Halstenbek area near Hamburg.

Soft & Cloud GmbH​

Software Distribution

Soft & Cloud is one of the leading providers of used standard software in Germany and partner for digital solutions as well as consultant for IT issues for business-to-business customers.

 

Ank-Kaiser Sanitätshaus GmbH

Healthcare

The Ank Group is the leading medical supply store group in Rhineland-Palatinate with a focus on medical supply and rehabilitation technology solutions for its customers.

Dr. Hoffmann Facility Services Group GmbH

Industrial Cleaning
Dr. Hoffmann Facility Services Group GmbH, based in Munich, is an established and owner-managed company for over 30 years and a nationwide facility cleaning service provider.

Wiethe Content GmbH

E-Commerce

The Wiethe Content Group is the largest e-commerce photo studio in Europe and an innovation leader in the area of ​​CGI and digitalization.

Xortec GmbH

Security and Data Communication Solutions
Xortec is a leading value-added distributor for integrated video surveillance and data communication solutions. The company’s focus is on the distribution of professional video surveillance solutions and a comprehensive range of accompanying services.

OUNDA GmbH

Optometry and Acoustics

Under the brand name “Klein, aber fein “, and with 110 shops across Germany, OUNDA is the leading group of premium opticians and acoustic solution providers in Germany.

LDBS Lichtdienst GmbH

Lighting Technology

LDBS is a leading lighting specialist in German-speaking countries and offers B2B customers a unique complete service for all aspects of lighting.

Seals of our Portfolio Companies
01_ADZ-Ank_2024
02_ADZ_Dr-Hoffmann_2024
Dr-Hoffmann-Klimaneutrales_Unternehmen
Dr-Hoffmann_TUEV_ISO 901
Dr-Hoffmann_TUEV_ISO 14001
LDBS_Klima_Protect_GLS
06_ADZ-Soft-and-Cloud_2024
Soft-and-Cloud_Kununu_Top_COmpany_2023
Soft-and-Cloud_Top-Dienstleister_2023
Soft-and-Cloud_Top-Empfehlung_2023
Xortec_Ökostrom
19_top-innovator-wiethe
17_gba23-wiethe
18_internetagentur23-wiethe
014_ADZ_Wiethe_2024
015_TS wiethe_2024
21_wachstumschampion23-wiethe
14_annual_multimedia-wiethe
16_dca-shortlist-wiethe
24_annual_multimedia-silber24-wiethe
22_wachstumschampion24-wiethe
23_innovationsschampion24-wiethe
kununu_TopCompany-Siegel_2024_RGB
00_Familienpakt_Bayern

Former Portfolio Companies

EBERTLANG Distribution GmbH

IT / Software (B2B)

EBERTLANG, headquartered in Wetzlar, has been one of the leading value-added software distributors in the B2B segment in German-speaking Europe since its foundation in 1995.

sysob IT- Unternehmensgruppe GmbH

IT Security

sysob is a leading independent specialist distributor with over 1,200 partners and 180 top partners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

BigCityBeats GmbH

Lifestyle & Entertainment

Since its foundation in 2005, the BigCityBeats Group has established itself among the leading producers and organizers of stadium events for club music and created a global brand core with its brand “World Club Dome”.

You might also be interested in this:

Our Approach

We Stand for Trust, Passion and Integrity

News

The Latest About Us and From The Industry

Career

Get Started Now With Us

"Together with our strong partner Beyond Capital Partners, we will continue to grow, steadily expand our areas and act as a key player in forest reforestation."

Holger Grelck,
Managing Director of Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen GmbH

Holger Grelck,
Managing Director of Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen GmbH

Portfolio

Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen GmbH

Purchase: September 2023

Key Figures at the Time of Acquisition

EUR 5-15 Mio.
Turnover

>30 %
EBITDA

50
Employees

Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen is one of the leading German forest nurseries for the cultivation of premium forest seedlings and grows many millions of seedlings annually on more than 100 hectares, on which a wide range of tree species, including sweet chestnut, oak, spruce, service tree and Douglas fir, are nursed. The forest tree nursery has been supplying municipalities, states as well as other nurseries and private forest owners since 1938 and has grown continuously in recent years. Our location in Halstenbek is the largest forest tree nursery region in Germany and is considered the “cradle of the forest” due to the fertile soil and optimal microclimatic conditions.

Forest tree nurseries are an important subgroup of tree nurseries and operate around 12% of Germany’s total tree nursery area. Overall, forest nurseries play a central role in the fight against climate change, as they are an integral part of the reforestation of German forests. At the same time, they enable companies to become more sustainable and achieve climate targets. Demand for seedlings for forestry plants has risen accordingly. The German forest relieves the atmosphere of 62 million tons of CO2 every year.

The aim is to further accelerate the impressive growth of Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen together with Beyond Capital Partners and to continue its expansion through selective acquisitions.

Headquarters
Halstenbek

Transaction
Buy-Out, succession solution

Industry
Forestry

Business Model
Forest Nursery

Fund Generation
Beyond Capital Partners Fund III

Team
Christoph D. Kauter, Nico Strott, Helena Hausen, Dominik Spinler

Value Creation Levers

Operational Improvements
  • Optimisation and digitalization of business processes such as finance, HR and IT
  • Succession planning for management & hiring of new commercial director
  • Set-up of comprehensive reporting
Organic Growth
  • Expansion of cultivable land under management
  • Intensification of sales activities and channels (i.e. website)
  • Set-up of additional service offerings such as forestry services, certificate trading, tree sponsorship offerings
Inorganic Growth
  • Acquisition of other players to accumulate more cultivable land and take over qualified personnel and machinery
  • Build-up of cooperations with local forest nurseries to establish show rooms for on-site sales activities

More Investments

Current Portfolio Companies

ORENDT STUDIOS Holding GmbH

B2B Services
ORENDT STUDIOS Holding GmbH is a group of companies specializing in the production and creation of marketing content for national and international branded goods and retail companies.

ECD International Holding GmbH

Agency
ECD International is a multidisciplinary and internationally active full-service agency in the premium and luxury segment and offers first-class services such as brand management, live marketing, communication, creative work, guest relations and CRM programs for a demanding target group.

 

Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen GmbH

Forestry
Holger Grelck Forstbaumschulen is one of the leading forest nurseries for seedling production in Germany and has over 100 ha of cultivable land in the Halstenbek area near Hamburg.

Soft & Cloud GmbH​

Software Distribution

Soft & Cloud is one of the leading providers of used standard software in Germany and partner for digital solutions as well as consultant for IT issues for business-to-business customers.

 

Ank-Kaiser Sanitätshaus GmbH

Healthcare

The Ank Group is the leading medical supply store group in Rhineland-Palatinate with a focus on medical supply and rehabilitation technology solutions for its customers.

Dr. Hoffmann Facility Services Group GmbH

Industrial Cleaning
Dr. Hoffmann Facility Services Group GmbH, based in Munich, is an established and owner-managed company for over 30 years and a nationwide facility cleaning service provider.

Wiethe Content GmbH

E-Commerce

The Wiethe Content Group is the largest e-commerce photo studio in Europe and an innovation leader in the area of ​​CGI and digitalization.

Xortec GmbH

Security and Data Communication Solutions
Xortec is a leading value-added distributor for integrated video surveillance and data communication solutions. The company’s focus is on the distribution of professional video surveillance solutions and a comprehensive range of accompanying services.

OUNDA GmbH

Optometry and Acoustics

Under the brand name “Klein, aber fein “, and with 110 shops across Germany, OUNDA is the leading group of premium opticians and acoustic solution providers in Germany.

LDBS Lichtdienst GmbH

Lighting Technology

LDBS is a leading lighting specialist in German-speaking countries and offers B2B customers a unique complete service for all aspects of lighting.

Seals of our Portfolio Companies
01_ADZ-Ank_2024
02_ADZ_Dr-Hoffmann_2024
Dr-Hoffmann-Klimaneutrales_Unternehmen
Dr-Hoffmann_TUEV_ISO 901
Dr-Hoffmann_TUEV_ISO 14001
LDBS_Klima_Protect_GLS
06_ADZ-Soft-and-Cloud_2024
Soft-and-Cloud_Kununu_Top_COmpany_2023
Soft-and-Cloud_Top-Dienstleister_2023
Soft-and-Cloud_Top-Empfehlung_2023
Xortec_Ökostrom
19_top-innovator-wiethe
17_gba23-wiethe
18_internetagentur23-wiethe
014_ADZ_Wiethe_2024
015_TS wiethe_2024
21_wachstumschampion23-wiethe
14_annual_multimedia-wiethe
16_dca-shortlist-wiethe
24_annual_multimedia-silber24-wiethe
22_wachstumschampion24-wiethe
23_innovationsschampion24-wiethe
kununu_TopCompany-Siegel_2024_RGB
00_Familienpakt_Bayern

Former Portfolio Companies

EBERTLANG Distribution GmbH

IT / Software (B2B)

EBERTLANG, headquartered in Wetzlar, has been one of the leading value-added software distributors in the B2B segment in German-speaking Europe since its foundation in 1995.

sysob IT- Unternehmensgruppe GmbH

IT Security

sysob is a leading independent specialist distributor with over 1,200 partners and 180 top partners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

BigCityBeats GmbH

Lifestyle & Entertainment

Since its foundation in 2005, the BigCityBeats Group has established itself among the leading producers and organizers of stadium events for club music and created a global brand core with its brand “World Club Dome”.

You might also be interested in this:

Our Approach

We Stand for Trust, Passion and Integrity

News

The Latest About Us and From The Industry

Career

Get Started Now With Us

To support our team in Frankfurt am Main, we are looking for you as

Working Student

About Beyond Capital Partners

Beyond Capital Partners (“BCP”) is a Frankfurt-based private equity firm focused on succession solutions, expansion capital and buyouts. As part of our investment approach, we invest in mid-cap companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with annual sales of between EUR 10 million and EUR 50 million and positive EBITDA. As an experienced and business-oriented investor, together with the founders of these companies, we develop the companies into a new size segment. Active acquisitions and focused buy-and-build are just as much value drivers as the improvement of operating processes and measures to increase sales and earnings.

Area Of Responsibility

  • Support of the investment team in all relevant tasks of day-to-day business
  • Deal-flow analysis and creation of investment profiles
  • Participation in due diligence and the documentation of investment decisions
  • Preparation of company valuations (DCF/LBO method)
  • Support in the management of portfolio companies
  • Participation in the preparation of exits of portfolio companies
  • Analysis of the market and competitive environment

Qualifications

  • Excellent academic achievements at a prestigious university, at least in the 4th semester of your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, focus on corporate finance, M&A and accounting
  • First relevant practical experience in private equity, investment banking or strategy consulting
  • Previous knowledge in the areas of balance sheet, P&L and cash flow analysis, company valuation and modeling in Excel (VBA knowledge desired)
  • Very good German and English skills, spoken and written
  • Very good computer skills (MS Office)
  • Outstanding analytical talent, entrepreneurial thinking, strong communication and team skills as well as resilience, intellectual curiosity and confident appearance

What We Offer You

As a full member of our company, you can rely on a dynamic team with flat hierarchies and at the same time benefit from a steep learning curve. You will be involved in all industry-typical processes and gain insight into the flow of transactions on the purchase and sales side.

Your Application

If we were able to arouse your interest, please send your complete application documents and next possible starting date via e-mail to Dr. Alexander Wenz (a.wenz@beyondcapital-partners.com).

Vacancies

Working Student

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