Deutsche Private Equity sells its stake in VTU Group, an Austrian engineering solutions provider for the Life Sciences and Green Transition industry in Europe

Feb 17, 2023

  • Scarce and high growth engineering solutions platform

  • 20% revenue CAGR over a decade, leading positions in key European markets

  • Successful partnership with VTU’s management team

MUNICH, 17 February 2023 – Funds advised by DPE Deutsche Private Equity Management III GmbH (“DPE”), a leading growth investor in the DACH region, sell their stake in VTU Group (“VTU”), an Austrian engineering solutions provider for the Life Sciences and Green Transition industries in Europe, to Altor Funds (“Altor”) for an undisclosed sum. VTU’s management team, who are DPE’s co-shareholders, are re-investing alongside Altor as part of the transaction. The closing is subject to regulatory approvals.

Scarce engineering solutions platform in Europe

Founded in 1990 in Graz, Austria, VTU is a leading process engineering company servicing blue-chip customers in the Life Sciences and Green Transition industries. The company offers a comprehensive engineering and value-added solutions portfolio covering the whole EPCM(V) value chain for its longstanding, blue-chip customers. VTU represents one of the few scalable, end-to-end engineering solutions platforms in Europe and holds strong positions in key European markets complemented by 36 locations.

20% revenue CAGR over a decade

Under the leadership of VTU’s management team, the company has evolved from a hidden champion with focus on Austria and Germany to a European leader in Life Sciences and Green Transition engineering. As such, VTU has increased its revenues by c. 160% during DPE’s 5-year investment period, while completing three strategic add-on acquisitions to complete its service portfolio. The company’s workforce, which consists 80% of highly qualified engineers, has increased from c. 400 employees at DPE’s entry to c. 1,200 employees now.

Successful partnership with VTU’s management team

Dr. Friedrich Fröschl, CEO at VTU, said: “We are very proud that we have managed to scale VTU into one of Europe’s leading engineering solutions platforms. We very much look forward to the next stage of growth with our prospective shareholder Altor, and at the same time want to thank DPE for the successful partnership over the past 5 years, which enabled this strong growth for the company, while keeping true to VTU’s core values.”

Guido Prehn, Managing Partner at DPE, added: “Since our investment into VTU in early 2018, the company has generated double-digit annual growth and significantly expanded its international footprint and value chain coverage. It has been a fantastic partnership with VTU’s management team.” “VTU is an excellent example of how private equity can help businesses scale significantly while remaining independent and preserve their corporate culture.”, adds Fabian Rücker, Partner at DPE.

DPE was advised by Houlihan Lokey (M&A), strategy& (Commercial Due Diligence), Deloitte (Financial and Tax Due Diligence), CMS (Lead Law), Arendt (Local Law), Pöllath + Partners and Schindler (Structuring).