German comms manufacturer comes under UK ownership

Wi-fi router vendor AVM has a new investor in Imker Capital Partners.

AVM, considered a pearl of the German IT industry, has found a new home with Imker Capital Partners, a London-HQ investment office.

The company, founded in Berlin in 1986 by four students, has relied on organic growth since its founding.

In 2023, the Berlin comms specialist achieved sales of EUR580m and EUR80m in operating profit with 890 employees.

Founders and managing partners Johannes Nill, Peter Faxel and Ulrich Müller-Albring have now begun the process of succession planning for the company.

They will remain in the company as minority shareholders and advisory board members.

London-HQ Imker Capital Partners also has an indirect stake in SAP Fioneer through Rucio, a Luxembourg company led by the family office.

Among Imker's shareholders is Teun van Rappard, whose father Rolly van Rappard is a business leader in the Netherlands.

Van Rappard Sr. was one of the co-founders of the company CVC, now one of the largest ten private equity firms in the world.

In Germany, CVC has a stake in the Douglas perfumery chain, among others, and its European investments also include a stake in Maltese bookmaker Tipico.

AVM CEO Johannes Nill outlines the future of AVM looks: "We have actively and systematically approached the generational change in order to continue the success of AVM.

"We are pleased to welcome Imker as a new investor, as they share our ideas about the future of AVM.

"Imker's commitment is an important milestone in the history of our company and will further promote AVM's ability to offer innovative solutions."

AVM is striving for further growth through new products and increased internationalisation.

Just a few days ago it became known that the German Federal Cartel Office had imposed a fine of EUR16m on AVM for systematic vertical price fixing with specialist retailers.