we create
market leaders
We are AUCTUS
With ca. 400 company investments since 2001, AUCTUS is the by far most active Germany-based private equity firm. Our buy-and-build strategies have created more market leaders than any other fund in Germany. As part of succession solutions, buy-and-build strategies and corporate spin-offs, we take a majority stake in medium-sized companies and / or provide capital for growth and acquisitions.
The Latin word “AUCTUS” stands for our entrepreneurial program “sustainable growth”. Together with the managers of our investments, we strive for a permanent increase in the companies’ value through sales and earnings growth.
AUCTUS is independent and owned by the partners.

News
We give our companies the time they need, to turn a good medium-sized company into a global market leader.“
Dr. Ingo Krocke, Founder
Awards
We are proud to look back on a multitude of outstanding international awards. These reflect the success we’ve achieved by bringing german medium-sized companies to market leadership, but also our spirit of partnership with our entrepreneurs and managers and our flexible and innovative capital solutions.
No other German-speaking fund has received more international awards. Whilst this makes us very happy and proud, it also is a constant reminder to work even harder to maintain our number one position and to continue to build the future market leaders.
- FOCUS-BUSINESS:
Top Arbeitgeber Mittelstand 2023 - kununu:
Top Company 2023 - International Investor Awards 2022-2023:
Best Private Equity Firm Germany 2022-2023 - CEO Monthly Magazine:
Most Influential CEO 2023 – Germany (Investment Services) - Wealth and Finance International:
Best DACH Mid-Sized Company Investment Specialists 2023
- kununu:
Top Company 2022 - 2022 Global Excellence Awards
Best Financial Services & Investment Banking Firm 2022 – Germany - 2022 Global Business Awards on behalf of Corp Today Magazine
Most Outstanding SME-Focused Private Equity Firm 2022 – Germany - Innovative Lawyers 2022:
Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Germany - Finance Derivative :
Most Excellent Investment Company Germany 2022 - Corp Today Magazine:
Best SME Private Equity Firm 2022 – Europe - International Investor Awards 2022:
Best Private Equity Firm Germany 2022-2023
- 2021 Global Business Insight Awards:
Most Outstanding SME-Focused Private Equity Firm 2021 – Germany - Wealth& Finance Elite 2021
Best SME Private Equity Firm 2021 – Europe - FOCUS:
Top Arbeitgeber Mittelstand 2021 - Private Equity Exchange Awards 2021:
Best LBO fund in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – Official nominee - M&A Awards 2021 hosted by Acquisition International:
Best Mid-Sized Business Investments PE Firm – Europe - Lawyers Worldwide Award Magazine:
Mergers & Acquisitions PE Firm of the Year – Germany
- Business Excellence Awards 2020:
Private Equity Firm of the Year 2020 – Germany - Wealth& Finance Elite 2020
Best SME Private Equity Firm 2020 – Europe - FOCUS MONEY “Deutschlandtest-Siegel” 2020
AUCTUS Portfolio unimed awarded as “Germany’s best billing company” - Private Equity Exchange Awards 2020:
Best LBO fund in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – Official nominee - FOCUS:
Top Arbeitgeber Mittelstand 2020
- Private Equity Exchange Awards 2019:
Best LBO fund in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - FOCUS:
Top Arbeitgeber Mittelstand 2019 - Lawyers World Country Awards 2019:
Best SME-Focused PE Firm for 2019 Germany - Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2019:
Best SME-Focused PE Firm 2019 – Germany - AI 2019 Business Excellence Awards:
Recognised Leaders in Owner Buy-Out Services - AI 2019 Business Excellence Awards:
Best Investment & Financial Solutions Firm Germany - Corporate Insider 2019 Business Excellence Awards:
Excellence in Mid-Sized Business Investments
- Corporate LiveWire Global Fund Awards 2018:
SME-Focused Private Equity Firm of the Year - AI 2018 Business Excellence Awards:
Best SME Focused Private Equity Firm 2018 – Germany - Wealth & Finance International:
Best Private Equity Firm 2018 – Germany & Global Buy-Out Fund of the Year - AI 2018 International Finance Awards:
SME Investors of the Year – DACH
Best SME PE Investment Company – Germany - Corporate Insider 2018 M&A Awards:
Excellence in Mid-Sized Business Investments – Germany - AI 2018 Global Excellence Awards:
Most Outstanding SME Private Equity Firm 2018 – Germany - Wealth & Finance Business Awards:
Best Mittelstand Investment Company – Munich - Wealth & Finance Investment Fund Awards:
Private Equity Firm of the Year 2018 – Germany - AI 2018 Global Excellence Awards:
Germanys Leading SME Private Equity Firm 2018
- AI Ones to Watch in EU Finance 2017
- AI 2017 International Fund Awards:
Most innovative Closed-End Fund
Private Equity Firm of the Year – Germany - 2017 German Enterprise Awards:
Recognised Leaders in Private Equity Consulting 2017 – Germany - AI 2017 M&A Awards:
Best PE Investment Firm – Germany - AI 2017 International Finance Awards:
Best PE Investment Firm – DACH Region
AI Excellence Award for High Transaction Security 2017 - CorporateLiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards:
Private Equity Firm of the Year - Corporate Insider M&A Awards 2017:
Excellence in Mid-Sized Business Investments – Germany
- Private Equity Exchange Award 2016:
Best LBO fund in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - Preqin:
Most Consistent Performing Manager - International Fund Award 2016:
Most Innovative Private Equity Firm 2016 – Germany - 2016 Business Ecellence Awards:
Best Mittelstand Private Equity House - 2016 DealMakers Country Awards:
BEST Private Equity Firm – Germany - Alternative Investment Awards:
Best Mittelstand Private Equity Firm - 2016 Global Fund Awards:
SME Focussed Private Equity Firm of the Year – Germany - 2016 M&A Awards:
Best SME Focused Private Equity Firm 2016 – Germany
Best for Acquisition Growth Strategies – Germany
- Private Equity Exchange Award 2015:
Best LBO fund in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - Finance Awards 2015:
Recognised Leader in Partial Sale / Owner Buy-Out - M&A Awards 2015:
Growth Capital Solutions Firm of the Year – Germany - Alternative Investment Awards 2015:
Excellence in Buy & Build
Best Small-Cap Private Equity Firm – Germany
Best Active Majority Investor – Germany - M&A Awards 2015 Corparte LiveWire:
Most Outstanding Healthcare Investment Firm – Germany - Global Awards 2015:
Industrial Sector Focused Private Equity Firm of the Year – Germany - Preqin:
Consistent Performing Manager - InterContinental Finance Awards 2015:
ICFM 250 Leading Firms - Lawyers World Country Awards 2015:
Best Private Equity Firm - Deal Makers Global Awards 2015:
Best Private Equity Firm
- Private Equity Exchange Awards 2014:
Gold Award – Best German, Austrian & Swiss LBO fund - M&A Awards 2014:
Industrial Sector Focused Private Equity Firm of the year – Germany - Alternative Investment Awards 2014:
Best German Buyout Fund of the year 2014 - Finance Awards 2014:
German Portfolio of the year - Finance Awards 2014:
Recognised Leader in German Portfolio - Annual Banking Awards 2014:
Trusted Private Equity Firm of the year – Germany - Legal Comprehensive Awards 2014:
Leading Private Equity Firm – Germany - InterContinental Finance Awards 2014:
Leading Private Equity Firm – Germany - Global Awards 2014:
Top 5 Private Equity Firm – Germany - Law Awards 2014:
Top Private Equity Firm – Germany - End of Year Annual Awards 2014:
Trusted Private Equity Firm – Germany
- Private Equity Exchange Awards 2013:
Gold Award – Best German, Austrian & Swiss LBO fund - International Fund Awards 2013:
German Private Equity Firm of the year - Finance Awards 2013:
German Portfolio of the year
- Private Equity Exchange Awards 2012:
Gold Award – Best German, Austrian & Swiss LBO fund
The AUCTUS annual review 2022
For us, 2022 was one of the best years in our now 22-year company history – despite the many challenges.

The ranks of our successful buy-and-build strategies were enriched by 4 strong platforms in 2022. We were able to strengthen our existing portfolio with an outstanding number of 48 acquisitions and we recorded the most brilliant AUCTUS exit year with 4 super exits.
In addition, we are happy to announce a new location in Milan, where we will manage our Italian activities with a team of 5 colleagues from now on.