Aurelius Group

In 2005, Dirk Markus and Gert Purkert, both former McKinsey consultants, founded Aurelius as a privately held investment vehicle investing in small- and medium-sized companies.

In 2006 listed subsidiary Aurelius AG (today: AUR Portfolio III SE & Co. KGaA, not listed anymore) was set up with a start-up capital of {{€|500,000|link=yes}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.handelsregister.de/rp_web/welcome.do|title=Registerportal |date=10 February 2015 |department=HRB 221100 |website=www.handelsregister.de |language=de|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-date=2007-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103100618/https://www.handelsregister.de/rp_web/welcome.do|url-status=dead}}

On 1 October 2015 Aurelius changed from a joint-stock company into an limited partnership as SE & Co. KGaA.{{Cite web|url=https://aureliusinvest.com/en/equity-opportunities/press/press-releases/aurelius-schliesst-umwandlung-in-se-co-kgaa-ab/|title=Filing in Commercial Register completed|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-date=2019-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205164452/https://aureliusinvest.com/en/equity-opportunities/press/press-releases/aurelius-schliesst-umwandlung-in-se-co-kgaa-ab/|url-status=dead}}

In April 2021, Aurelius announced that it had launched a more than €500 million investment fund specializing in corporate spin-offs and companies in transition, whose investors include US and European university endowments, pension funds, insurance companies and family offices.{{cite web|title=Aurelius wird zum Midcap-Investor|periodical=|publisher=|url=https://www.finance-magazin.de/deals/private-equity-private-debt/aurelius-wird-zum-midcap-investor-2078141/|url-status=|format=|access-date=2021-04-30|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=19 April 2021|language=de|pages=|quote=}}

Due to Aurelius Group’s approach to buying and developing value assets, it is often referred to as the German Berkshire Hathaway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boerse.de/nachrichten/Ein-deutsches-Beteiligungsunternehmen-das-auch-Warren-Buffett-gefallen-koennte-Aurelius/7978920|title=A German holding company that Warren Buffett certainly would approve of: Aurelius. (translated from German)|website=boerse.de|language=de|access-date=2019-01-22}} It has six divisions:{{Cite web|url=https://aurelius-group.com/|title=Aurelius Group|access-date=2019-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806153254/http://aurelius-group.com/|archive-date=2018-08-06|url-status=dead}}

• Aurelius European Opportunities Fund IV
• AUR Portfolio III
• Aurelius Growth Investments
• Aurelius Real Estate Opportunities
• Aurelius Finance Company
• Aurelius Refugee Initiative

Aurelius Growth Investments is a long-term oriented private equity investor focussed on succession solutions for small and medium enterprises in Europe.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-28|title=Aurelius Growth Investments obtains EUR120m in capital commitments to finance additional acquisitions {{!}} Private Equity WireAurelius Growth Investments obtains EUR120m in capital commitments to finance additional acquisitions|url=http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2020/09/28/290143/aurelius-growth-investments-obtains-eur120m-capital-commitments-finance|access-date=2020-11-10|website=www.privateequitywire.co.uk|language=en}} Aurelius Real Estate Opportunities focuses on investments in residential, office, retail, hotel and care properties as well as multi-storey and underground car parks.{{Cite web|last=Dorbian|first=Iris|date=2020-10-19|title=Aurelius to buy GKN Wheels & Structures|url=https://www.pehub.com/aurelius-to-buy-gkn-wheels-structures/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=PE Hub|language=en-US}} Aurelius Finance Company is an alternative lender providing capital to UK and European companies.{{Cite web|last=Bossi|first=Paolo|title=Aurelius Finance Company's Funding Package For M&Co – Global Legal Chronicle|date=10 August 2020 |url=https://www.globallegalchronicle.com/aurelius-finance-companys-funding-package-for-mco/|access-date=2020-11-10|language=en-US}} Non-profit charity Aurelius Refugee Initiative e.V. Aurelius conducts a support and aid program for people with a migration background.{{Cite web|last=Witkowsky|first=Chris|date=2020-07-24|title=Aurelius Equity-backed Office Depot Europe agrees to sell Spanish contract business to Lyreco|url=https://www.pehub.com/aurelius-equity-backed-office-depot-europe-agrees-to-sell-spanish-contract-business-to-lyreco/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=PE Hub|language=en-US}}

Aurelius European Opportunities Fund IV currently holds 11 investments. The best-known investments include:

• LSG Sky Chefs (LSG Group), global Airline-Caterer{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Mark |date=2023-11-01 |title=Aurelius Group completes acquisition of airline catering and retail company LSG Group |url=https://moodiedavittreport.com/aurelius-group-completes-acquisition-of-airline-catering-and-retail-company-lsg-group/#:~:text=Private%20equity%20company%20Aurelius%20Group,now%20becomes%20a%20standalone%20company. |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Moodie Davitt Report |language=en-US}}
• WECK, renowned glass jar manufacturer{{Cite news |date=2023-11-23 |title=Weck: Finanzinvestor übernimmt insolventen Glashersteller |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/weck-finanzinvestor-aurelius-uebernimmt-insolventen-glashersteller-a-c6b1e760-ce8b-412b-ab25-24df9a776f32 |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}
• Hallo Healthcare Group, pharmaceutical wholesaler{{Cite web |date=2022-04-07 |title=McKesson completes sale of Lloydspharmacy to Aurelius Group |url=https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD136036/McKesson-completes-sale-of-Lloydspharmacy-to-Aurelius-Group/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=C+D |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Craft |first=Mark |date=8 April 2022 |title=Aurelius Completes Acquisition Of LloydsPharmacy And AAH - KamCity |url=https://www.kamcity.com/namnews/uk-and-ireland/healthbeauty/aurelius-completes-acquisition-of-lloydspharmacy-and-aah/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |language=en-GB}}
• Footasylum, retailer of fashion streetwear and sneakers{{Cite news |title=JD Sports sells Footasylum to Germany's Aurelius for 45 mln euros |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/jd-sports-sells-footasylum-germanys-aurelius-2022-08-01/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113205846/https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/jd-sports-sells-footasylum-germanys-aurelius-2022-08-01/ |archive-date=2023-01-13 |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}

Aurelius Growth Investments currently holds 16 investments in small and medium-sized companies in Germany. The best-known investments include:

• Greenovis Group, gardening and landscaping{{Cite web |title=Greenovis Group - AURELIUS |url=https://www.aurelius-group.com/investment/greenovis |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.aurelius-group.com |language=en}}
• Kirotec, structural fire protection{{Cite web |title=KIROTEC - AURELIUS |url=https://www.aurelius-group.com/investment/kirotec |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.aurelius-group.com |language=en}}
• LittleBigHotels, hotel management{{Cite web |title=Expansion: Wachstumsteam für „little Big hotels“ vorgestellt |url=https://www.ahgz.de/hotellerie/news/expansion-wachstumsteam-fuer-little-big-hotels-vorgestellt-312975 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.ahgz.de |language=de}}
• G&N Group, technical building equipment{{Cite web |title=G&N Group - AURELIUS |url=https://www.aurelius-group.com/investment/gn |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.aurelius-group.com |language=en}}

AUR Portfolio III SE & Co. KGaA currently holds 18 investments in its portfolio (May 2024). The best-known investments include:

• Scholl, manufacturer of shoes{{Cite news |date=2014-07-21 |title=Aurelius buys Scholl shoe business from Reckitt Benckiser |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aurelius-scholl-deal-idUSKBN0FQ11L20140721 |access-date=2019-02-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

• VAG, manufacturer of valves{{Cite web |date=2018-10-08 |title=Aurelius acquires VAG {{!}} Private Equity Wire |url=http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2018/10/08/269207/aurelius-acquires-vag |access-date=2020-09-28 |website=www.privateequitywire.co.uk |language=en}}

• Hanse Yachts, manufacturer of sailing yachts{{Cite web |last=Gunkel |first=Fridtjof |title=Shipyard merger: Hanse buys catamaran manufacturer |url=https://www.yacht.de/en/yachts/shipyards/shipyard-merger-hanse-buys-catamaran-manufacturer/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=YACHT - Everything about sailing |language=en}}

• European Imaging Group, retailer of photographic and video equipment{{Cite web |title=Photography Chain Seeks Focus With Aurelius |url=https://news.sky.com/story/photography-chain-seeks-focus-with-aurelius-10305928 |access-date=2019-02-27 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

• Silvan, ‘Do-It-Yourself’ retail chain{{Cite web |title=Silvan |url=https://aeo-se.de/en/companies/silvan/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=aeo-se.de |language=en}}

connexta, an IT services platform, was sold by Aurelius Wachstumskapital (Growth Investments) to the private equity investor Fremman Capital in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Wachstum soll beschleunigt werden: Connexta mit neuem Investor |url=https://www.channelpartner.de/a/connexta-mit-neuem-investor,3617388 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.channelpartner.de |language=de}}

Distrelec, a B2B distributor of electronic and technical components, was sold to RS Group for €365 after three years in the Aurelius portfolio.{{Cite web |title=AURELIUS Equity Opportunities sells Distrelec Group to RS Group - AURELIUS |url=https://www.aurelius-group.com/aurelius-equity-opportunities-sells-distrelec-group-to-rs-group |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.aurelius-group.com |language=en}}

Blaupunkt was sold to the private equity backed licensing company Established in 2023.{{Cite web |title=GIP Development sells Blaupunkt brand - AURELIUS |url=https://www.aurelius-group.com/gip-development-sells-blaupunkt-brand |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.aurelius-group.com |language=en}}

Scandinavian Cosmetics Group was sold to Accent Equity for €60 million in October 2019.{{Cite news|title=Aurelius sells Nordic cosmetics group to Accent for €60m - Private Equity News|url=https://www.penews.com/articles/aurelius-sells-nordic-cosmetics-group-to-accent-for-e60m-20191010|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.penews.com |last1=Colyer |first1=Jack }}{{Cite web|title=Aurelius exits Scandinavian Cosmetics to Accent Equity {{!}} PitchBook|url=https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/aurelius-exits-scandinavian-cosmetics-to-accent-equity|access-date=2020-09-28|website=pitchbook.com|language=en}}

The solid board and printed carton business of the Smurfit Kappa Group, acquired in April 2015, with production sites in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, which was later renamed Solidus Solutions, was sold to Centerbridge in June 2019 for €330 million. This was the largest exit in the company's history to date for Aurelius.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-01|title=AURELIUS sells Solidus Solutions for EUR330m {{!}} Private Equity Wire|url=http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2019/07/01/276939/aurelius-sells-solidus-solutions-eur330m|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.privateequitywire.co.uk|language=en}}

In 2017, it sold Getronics for €220 million;{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-aurelius-sells-getronics-group-idUSASM000COL|title=BRIEF-Aurelius sells Getronics Group|date=2017-07-06|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-02-27|language=en}} it had been acquired from KPN in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/2240157373/Getronics-sold-off-in-KPN-shake-up|title=Getronics sold off in KPN shake-up|website=MicroscopeUK|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27}} That year, it also sold Secop for €185 million, which had been acquired from Danfoss in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/globe-newswire-nidec-to-acquire-secop-group-secop-holding-gmbh-and-other-3-entities-a-german-compressor-manufacturer.html|title=Nidec to Acquire Secop Group (Secop Holding GmbH and Other 3 Entities), a German Compressor Manufacturer|last=CNBC|date=2017-04-24|website=www.cnbc.com|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=2019-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004117/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/globe-newswire-nidec-to-acquire-secop-group-secop-holding-gmbh-and-other-3-entities-a-german-compressor-manufacturer.html|url-status=dead}}

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Category:Financial services companies established in 2005

Category:German companies established in 2005

Category:Investment companies of Germany

Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Germany