Astera Legal advises DeutschAkademie Gruppe GmbH (“DeutschAkademie”), a portfolio company of BPE, on the refinancing of the group and on an add-on transaction. The transaction strengthens the groups capital structure and provides a strong foundation for the next phase of profitable growth.
Background: Headquartered in Hamburg, DeutschAkademie is one of the largest private providers of German as a Foreign Language in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company combines a network of on-site schools with a highly scalable online platform offering more than 200 parallel live courses. Supported by structural demand driven by skilled migration and increasing student numbers, DeutschAkademie is well positioned to continue gaining market share.
For over 25 years, BPE has successfully resolved business succession situations, built new Mittelstand champions, and turned managers into entrepreneurs. Its strategy of financing management buy-outs and buy-ins for German SMEs, addressing succession issues or corporate carve-outs, has proven itself consistently since 1998. The innovative strength and adaptability of these companies, together with the exceptional entrepreneurs who drive BPE’s investment strategies, have shaped BPE’s development over the past two decades. BPE focuses on small-cap buy-outs of German companies with revenues of EUR 10 to 100 million, typically in succession situations, corporate carve-outs, underperformer turnarounds and buy-and-build strategies. It structures these as majority investments with substantial management participation, targeting companies with strong German core competencies and access to growth markets and globalisation opportunities. Value creation is driven by optimising the acquisition structure, operational excellence, strategic development and expanding market leadership.
The Astera Legal-Deal Team was led by Isabell Hitzer (Partner) and supported by Benedikt Ruck (Senior Associate) and Claudia Kupka (Transaction Analyst).
About Astera Legal
Astera Legal is a high-end boutique law firm specializing in advising on all types of national and international complex financing structures. The experienced team is one of the leading units for acquisition financing in Germany with an excellent track record. Clients include private equity firms, debt funds and financial institutions, as well as nationally and internationally operating companies. With its international network, Astera Legal offers a real alternative to major law firms.
For more information, please visit www.astera-legal.com.
Contact Astera Legal
Isabell Hitzer
+49 (0) 89 25003 78-0
isabell.hitzer@astera-legal.com