15. June 2026
What Makes AUCTUS the Market Leader in Buy-and-Build Strategies
German small and medium-sized enterprises are facing a historic challenge: In the coming years, tens of thousands of established family-owned businesses will be seeking a sustainable succession solution. At the same time, increasing pressure to innovate and digitize is heightening the need to consolidate operational resources. In this demanding market environment, AUCTUS Capital Partners AG has established itself as the leading provider of buy-and-build strategies in the small- and mid-cap segment.
But why is AUCTUS, with over 470 transactions to its credit, able to successfully consolidate fragmented markets, while others fail due to the complexity of the SME sector? This success is based on a precisely orchestrated methodology that combines financial clout with a deep empathy for the life’s work of SME entrepreneurs.
1. The Basics: What Does “Buy & Build” Mean in the Private Equity Sector?
1. The Basics: What Does “Buy & Build” Mean in the Private Equity Sector?
In the private equity sector, a “buy and build” strategy refers to the targeted acquisition of an established, scalable company (known as a “platform”) with the aim of continuously expanding it through strategic acquisitions of smaller market players (add-ons).
The drivers of value creation
- Economies of scale: Purchasing advantages and shared administrative structures reduce the fixed-cost ratio.
- Cross-selling: Expanding the product portfolio and geographic reach for existing customers.
- Multiple Expansion: Larger, internationally active corporate groups consistently achieve higher valuation multiples at the time of exit than standalone companies.
2. The AUCTUS Formula: Strategic Sourcing and Platform Validation
2. The AUCTUS Formula: Strategic Sourcing and Platform Validation
Criteria for AUCTUS platforms
- Market size: At least 1 billion euros in core market size in Germany.
- Degree of fragmentation: A large number of small providers with no dominant market leader.
- Target market: Established companies with annual revenue ranging from €10 million to €150 million.
- Growth drivers: Structurally sound markets facing significant pressure from digitalization or consolidation.
3. Business succession based on partnership and mutual respect
Preserving Culture in the Face of Standardization
- Operational autonomy: Regional identities, established brands, and the existing corporate culture will be explicitly preserved.
- Financial backing: Entrepreneurs receive the necessary liquidity and equity to make essential large-scale investments.
- Reinvestment: Selling owners or the incoming management team are given the opportunity to participate substantially in the overall success of the new group through reinvestment.
4. Operational Excellence in Add-on Integration
4. Operational Excellence in Add-on Integration
- Institutional Professionalization: Implementation of standardized KPI reporting, modern ERP systems, and automated HR processes.
- Management Support: Experienced industry experts and advisory board members support the operational management team without interfering with day-to-day operations.
- M&A clout on demand: Portfolio companies leverage AUCTUS’s centralized M&A platform to negotiate add-on acquisitions at a rapid pace and with maximum transaction security.
A prominent real-world example of this success is the development of PharmaLex: Over an eight-year holding period, AUCTUS supported the platform through 38 add-on acquisitions and transformed the regional specialist into a global market leader with over 1,200 experts.
5. Speed and transaction security in the deal process
5. Speed and transaction security in the deal process
- Flat hierarchies: At AUCTUS, the partners make decisions right at the table. There are no lengthy, international committee processes.
- Pragmatic due diligence: We provide reliable, in-depth feedback on a case within a few days. This builds trust and allows all parties to plan effectively.
Conclusion: The platform as a driving force for tomorrow’s small and medium-sized businesses
Conclusion: The platform as a driving force for tomorrow’s small and medium-sized businesses
About Auctus
With over 470 investments over the past 25 years, AUCTUS is the most active private equity firm focused on European SMEs. Our investments focus on majority shareholdings in companies with annual sales of between EUR 10 million and EUR 150 million.
AUCTUS stands for sustainable organic growth, but also inorganic growth through acquisitions. We achieve this in a trusting partnership together with the management of our companies. We specialize in building successful medium-sized groups of companies – we make market leaders. The more than 35 experienced AUCTUS investment experts currently manage around 50 platform investments from various sectors of the economy. The total of platform investments with a total of over 200 individual companies generates annual sales of over € 4 billion. Sales and earnings have been growing at >10% per year for years.
Our successful work is regularly rewarded with prestigious awards and top international rankings.