Company
Mutares focuses on acquiring small and medium-sized companies that find themselves in situations involving major change.
In particular, we invest in European companies that have plenty of potential for development and already possess established business models – often combined with strong brands. We focus on the following segments:
We are especially interested in companies that produce turnover of between EUR 50 million and EUR 500 million.
In order to do so, we support the companies in our portfolio by putting our experienced team of operational specialists to work to identify opportunities and to exploit potential for improvement profitably and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, from customers and suppliers to employees and shareholders.
The management and the employees of the companies that we acquire are essential in tackling the changes that come with optimising operations. The success of all our work ultimately depends on the skills, dedication and team spirit of employees. We are convinced that only by working together can a company’s value be increased by any significant measure. Giving employees and the management a stake in the company’s success is therefore a key part of our development strategy.
Furthermore, when devising the customised strategies for the individual companies in our portfolio, we call upon both tried and tested entrepreneurial methods and creative and unconventional approaches. In each case, we follow five principles:
Whenever making a decision, Mutares keeps organic growth and the lasting success of the companies in its portfolio in mind. This takes time. That’s why we invest for the long term and give our companies the time they need to increase turnover and profitability and to consolidate their market positions.
Once restructuring is complete, we are not content merely to hold, manage and monitor the performance of our investments, but we employ active investment management to ensure that we are constantly investigating new business opportunities and helping to make the most of them. In order to drive the sustainable development of our portfolio and the achievement of our ambitious growth targets, we regularly examine add-on acquisitions and pursue a focused buy-and-build approach.
Mutares sees itself as an investor who actively supports its portfolio companies in defining and implementing extensive turnaround and optimization programs with the goal of aligning the company for long-term growth.
Sustainable management is therefore an integral part of our business activities. In doing so, it is our goal to strike a balance between all stakeholder groups’ interests while taking into account environmental issues. Green technologies, resource-saving production methods and energy from renewable sources are the key to a holistic approach. We also ensure that our portfolio companies comply with and implement environmental, social and corporate/governmental values and standards.
Our portfolio companies are also socially committed; the Donges Group for example supports the charitable association Aid Kenya Watoto e.V., founded in the Rhineland, and thus the work for deaf children in Kenya. In addition to supporting the ones in need, Mutares is naturally keen to create a socially fair environment for its own employees. We pay attention to regulated working hours, adequate wages, fair conditions at the workplace and diversity, as well as training and further education opportunities. Compliance with occupational safety and health protection is strengthened by the introduction of a “zero accident” safety culture. In the past year, for example, Kalzip GmbH set an internal company record of more than 1,000 accident-free days.
In addition to the measures taken within the portfolio companies, Mutares is also aware of its responsibility for sustainability and has consequently opted for holistic ESG integration.
Mutares also pays attention to the compliance and implementation of ecological standards in its investments. In total, 36% of Mutares’ portfolio is ISO 14001:2015 certified – the highest standard for preventing environmental damage.