11 private equity firms in the Netherlands joined us for an Out of the Ordinary opportunity to compete, connect, and strengthen industry ties.
On 10 July 2025, Investec hosted the first Padel Champions Cup at Padel Mate Club, outside Amsterdam. Designed for the private equity community, the event brought together over 50 professionals from leading companies.
Guests enjoyed padel matches and a relaxed summer BBQ with drinks while networking. The Cup marks the launch of a new series aimed at strengthening industry relationships through sport.
Event highlights
A standout moment came in the final match of the Advanced League, where FIELDS Group beat Vendis Capital in a close game that had spectators cheering. In the Beginners League, Rivean Capital beat Gate Invest 8-3 to take home the winning prize. Their performances set a high benchmark for the rest of the competition, promising more excitement in future rounds.
Community
From senior partners to associates, the event welcomed a mix of private equity professionals. The competitive but friendly format encouraged spontaneous conversations, new introductions, and some light-hearted rivalry.
Off the court, the informal setting encouraged open, candid conversations about the latest trends in private equity.
Looking ahead
The Padel Champions Cup returns later this year, concluding with a final round next summer.
Interested in joining future rounds? Contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming even more of the community next time.
At Investec, we believe strong business is built on strong relationships. That’s why we’re committed to creating Out of the Ordinary experiences for our clients and partners.
On June 5, we had the pleasure of hosting a selected group of entrepreneurs for our TMT CEO Dinner in our Wiesbaden office.
The evening focused on strategic dialogue around digital transformation and the impact of software and how leaders can actively shape the future of their businesses. A standout moment was the keynote by Lars Lehne (former CEO of Incubeta and Syzygy), who offered inspiring perspectives on South African culture and the intersection of digital expertise, leadership, and openness to change – all with a fresh and thought-provoking angle.
The event wrapped up with a relaxed and personal dinner, offering a space for open dialogue and meaningful new connections.
Evenings like this are where ideas begin to take shape and future plans are set in motion. We’re already looking forward to the next edition!
Investec M&A advisory recently facilitated the negotiation module again for the NVP Essentials Course in the Netherlands.
This highly regarded multi-day program, organized by the Dutch Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (NVP), provides a comprehensive overview of the complete private equity investment process, equipping starting PE and M&A professionals with essential knowledge and practical skills.
During the PE Essentials training, the professionals went through the entire PE investment process. Investec led the workshop focused on negotiation strategies, while other speakers covered topics such as bank financing, investment management, due diligence and exits.
Our negotiation workshop equipped participants with practical tools and strategies for maximizing deal outcomes. This hands-on training directly enhances their daily work performance. Following a challenging round of negotiations in our case study, champagne was awarded to the buyers and sellers who achieved the most favorable outcome at the end.
Investec’s continuous involvement in the NVP Essentials Course underscores our commitment to continuous professional development and dedication to staying at the forefront of the private equity industry.
R&D to grow or just to be?
Animal health: Is R&D required for growth or survival?
Gary Clarence, Nicolas Balon and Jan Willem Jonkman from the healthcare advisory team explain how the humanisation of animals, success of novel therapeutic approaches and technologies in human health, as well as the increased drug resistance will continue to underpin focus on R&D.
Watch highlights from the 2024 conference
The humanisation of companion animals, demand for sustainable food sources for livestock, as well as requirements for improvements in animal welfare are driving innovation and consolidation in the animal health sector. These three trends were at the centre of discussions at our inaugural Animal Health conference, where industry leaders and advisors discussed whether the R&D investment is a prerequisite for survival or is it still predominantly undertaken for growth.
Animal health market comprises multiple categories, such as vaccines & medicines, veterinary services, pet supplies & serves, and feed additives. The sector, which was valued at approximately £130 billion in 2023, has a forecast compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5-8% per annum until 2030.
Companion animals to remain a key segment driving future growth
Increased pet ownership in developed economies, the growing importance owners place on their pets, and higher awareness around animal health and wellbeing have boosted spending on veterinary treatments, preventative health measures, and wellness products for companion animals. Pet owners’ primary focus on quality of life and longevity is driving innovation in disease and symptom control. As pet ownership has been shown to have physiological and emotional benefits for humans, the positive impact on global human health cannot be underestimated. However, conversely, 75% of over 30 new human pathogens identified in the last few decades, originated in animals1.
Continuous R&D focus on translating advanced human technologies to animal health
Success of novel therapeutic approaches and technologies in human health are among key drivers of increasing animal health R&D spend. Clinical drivers behind the trend are potential to translate novel treatment benefits from human to animal health (e.g., monoclonal antibodies and mRNA vaccines), growing scientific basis for the use of new technologies to address animal disease (e.g., gene therapies and stem cell therapy), and evolving treatment paradigms due to microbial resistance concerns (including increasing focus on proactive prevention).
Further underpinning the trend are non-clinical drivers such as growing willingness to spend disposable income on pets, emerging role of technological advancements in healthcare (e.g., across spectrum of big data and artificial intelligence), and increasing government and non-government investment into sustainable animal health (e.g., sustainable agriculture / farming)2.
What is clear is that as the animal health market is becoming more specialised and sophisticated. Therefore, investors and operators must carefully consider which are the most appropriate areas and specialties to drive their business forward.
Our guest speakers
David Hallas,
CEO, ECO Animal Health plc
Laurent Flaus,
Co-Founder and CEO, Axience Group
Simon Middleton,
Partner, L.E.K. Consulting
Sources
1 World Health Organization ‘One Health’ guide 2019
2 L.E.K. Consulting
Recap | Information event: Financing summit | 11 October 2024 | Bergwelt Kandel
Creative solutions for challenging times
The economy is faltering, and order intake has become volatile or even shrinking. Companies planning a refinancing, a generational change or having to fund investment programs are facing difficult market conditions. The buzzword ‘transformation’ is being used inflationary, and some even speak of de-industrialization in Germany. What role do banks and financial partners play in this situation? Does debt capital still make sense, or do mezzanine financings and minority equity offer a real alternative?
These and other questions were the focus of the wvib Financing Summit on the Kandel, where expert insights were provided by Michael Fabich, Chairman Investec, and Thorsten Gladiator, Managing Partner Investec. They discussed the crucial role and significance of the sector in today’s financial landscape.
The wvib (Wirtschaftsverband Industrieller Unternehmen Baden e. V. in the Southwest of Germany) is a trade association for industrial SMEs, a mouthpiece and service provider for family-owned medium-sized companies. Founded in 1946 by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, wvib comprises 1,040 manufacturing companies with 384,000 employees and a worldwide turnover of 75 billion euros. The association has over 60 full-time employees. At the invitation of wvib, Investec took part in the wvib Financing Summit with a presentation together with representatives of financing providers and companies.
Private equity as a flexible financing instrument: from locust to grasshopper
Private equity (PE) has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades. Once decried as ‘locusts’, private equity has now developed into an instrument to fund sustainable growth. PE also plays an important role in German medium-sized companies when it comes to successfully managing succession arrangements, changes in ownership or strengthening of equity. The success of the model is reflected in the figures: In Germany today, there are over 470 private equity firms that have invested in more than 5,500 portfolio companies, which together generate annual sales of €293 billion and employ around 1.5 million people. In the last five years alone, around €76 billion has been invested in the market. Thorsten Gladiator and Michael Fabich emphasize that PE today is more than just financial engineering. The focus is on long-term value enhancement through targeted operational improvements and strategic growth.
Between transformation and regulatory pressure
What will 2024 look like for a German automotive supplier? The Leiber Group, a family-run company with a long tradition, invested heavily in e-mobility – once a reason for customers and financing partners to be pleased. However, the expected unit numbers fell short of the forecasts by up to 80%. Managing Director Martin Müller describes the situation as a ‘vicious cycle’: price pressure from customers, constant transformation pressure and a growing flood of regulation are weighing on both the workforce and the company’s liquidity. Nevertheless, Leiber is looking optimistically to the future with a new brand identity and the motto ‘with ease ahead’. A consortium of five savings banks is securing the financing. ‘We don’t complain, we act’ – a motto that fits perfectly with the current times.
Financing the future – how, who and when?
A “management buyout” instead of a handover within the family raises exciting questions: How much capital can the management raise? How do you organise a gradual transition? The mechanical engineering firm MAFAC, managed by Rainer and Joachim Schwarz, tackled this process at an early stage. For the new managing director and shareholder Stefan Schal, financial security through a complex construct of silent partnerships, fixed-interest loans and a guarantee was anything but a given. The solution preserved the values of the family business and secured its future.
Global markets, local solutions
The Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau also sees the world as changing. While sales markets are global, financing is often secured locally. This is where Markus Hildmann comes in. With topics such as sustainability regulation, corporate finance and corporate succession, the Sparkasse supports companies with modern software solutions such as Nawisio, which are designed to facilitate compliance with CSRD, EU taxonomy and CSDDD. The centre of excellence for corporate succession is designed to ensure that the 125,000 companies affected each year find a suitable solution. Hildmann emphasises that it is crucial to involve financing partners at an early stage.
Mezzanine financing: stopgap or strategic advantage?
Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (MBG) and Bürgschaftsbank BW work closely together. For Chris Hammer, the silent participation is a strategic tool for getting back on the offensive from a defensive position. Thanks to its subordination, lack of exit pressure and non-interference in day-to-day business, this instrument can create a solid basis for further outside capital without the need to sell company shares. Creditworthiness and room for maneuver are maintained – ideal for transformations, growth financing, innovations, successions or start-ups.
Conclusion
According to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW), Germany will need around €1.3 trillion of financing between now and 2030 to achieve the transformation and future growth it needs. This staggering figure makes it clear that traditional financing methods alone will not be enough. To successfully shape the economic future of German SMEs and finance transformations, it will take courage, collaboration and an open mind when it comes to tapping new sources of capital.
Watch the recap of the Summit here: