Home Conerstone-Capital – Cornerstone Capital

Partnership

and Trust

Creating sustainable

value together

Investments in innovative

technology-oriented growth companies

CornerstoneCapital

invests in established, technology-oriented growth companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

We are entrepreneurial partners of the management with whom we realize visions and increase value.

Our substantial business and financial network supports us in the acquisition of investment opportunities and can also be utilized by our portfolio companies.

Founded in 2001, CornerstoneCapital has successfully invested in 25 companies. Many investments were done and developed by Pieter van Halem, co-founder and managing director of CornerstoneCapital. We are currently investing out of our third investment vehicle with a total amount of EUR 100 million.

Experienced investor with more than 23 years of experience

More than 25 successful transactions

18 add-on acquisitions

CornerstoneCapital is member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften e.V.
Through the non-profit organization Hope4Dalits CornerstoneCapital funds a substantial part of a children’s home in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
CornerstoneCapital supports a soup kitchen in Frankfurt.

INVESTMENT FOCUS

We support our portfolio companies and their management in achieving their visions and strategic goals

INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY

We invest in successful management teams based on trust, cooperation and speed. Our transactions are characterized by flexible structures and great personal commitment.

Partnership

Entrepreneurial thinking – As management sparring partners, we provide external impulses for strategic options
Focus on strategic issues – we do not get involved into day-to-day operations
Access to our network – We support with our network, for example, in acquisitions or financing

Flexible Partner for a defined time

Tailor made transactions – our fund structure allows us to flexibly address the interests of companies, vendors and management teams
Flexible investment horizon – the duration of our engagement can be adjusted individually; longer holding periods possible
Personal engagement – We invest private resources and time in each of our companies

INVESTMENT SITUATIONS

We typically take majority holdings in our investments but also take – especially in growth situations – minority positions.

Management Buy-Outs

We support management teams in investing in „their“ company as part of corporate transactions and to participate together with us as equal partners in the successful development of the company.

Carve-Outs

We invest in spin-offs of non-core subsidiaries or business units with the goal of working with existing management to successfully continue the business on a stand-alone basis and generate sustainable growth to increase value.

Succession Solutions

We support family businesses in realizing upcoming changes in their shareholders structures. This includes the continuation of the company with existing or external management or the replacement of individual shareholders.

Growth Capital

We provide growth capital to companies with outstanding technologies or services for example expanding production, developing new products, or internationalization.

INVESTMENT CRITERIA

We invest in companies with outstanding technological expertise and strategic value creation opportunities.

Technology-oriented companies

Sector focus – capital goods industry, engineering, software and IT services, technological services, medical technology, chemicals

Business concept

Successful positioning – Our companies differentiate themselves through technological products or process advantages in growth markets. They have sustainable entry barriers and typically do not operate in cyclical markets.
Advanced market life cycle / market leadership potential – Products and services of our portfolio companies provide clear and already established benefits to the customer and therefore a strong market position
Company size – We are actively looking for companies with a turnover of more than € 10 million (smaller with high growth and / or outstanding technology)

Qualified Management

Our investments are always lead by excellent managers who value strategic support. Innovation paired with implementation strength and management experience are the most important prerequisites for success.

Focus on German speaking Europe

We primarily focus on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but can also invest outside our core regions.

Majority and minority participations

We prefer to invest as majority shareholders but can also take minority positions – especially in growth situations

Transaction size

We typically invest in transactions valued up to € 50 million with our equity investment sweet spot ranging from € 3 – € 15 million. In larger transactions we invest together with partners.

PIETER VAN HALEM

MANAGING PARTNER

Pieter van Halem is Managing Director and Co-Founder of CornerstoneCapital Verwaltung AG. During his 23 year tenure in the private equity industry, he has been in charge of many Buyouts/Pipes as well as growth capital investments.

He holds a degree in business administration from the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel as well as an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Pieter van Halem is Vice Chairman of ELTEC Elektronik AG and supervises our majority investment in EppsteinFOILS GmbH & Co. KG.