Press Release

August 3 2022

DPE acquires a majority stake in Sill Optics from PINOVA

Funds advised by Deutsche Private Equity ("DPE") have acquired a majority stake in Sill Optics GmbH & Co. KG ("Sill Optics"). Sill Optics was previously owned by funds advised by PINOVA Capital GmbH ("PINOVA") and CEO Christoph Sieber who, along with CFO Benjamin Sauter, will remain invested in Sill Optics alongside DPE. The parties agreed to keep the purchase price of the transaction confidential.

Sill Optics is a leading manufacturer of precision optics used in various applications including laser material processing, additive manufacturing, medical technology and select chip manufacturing processes. With its products and solutions, Sill Optics serves growing end markets in which its products are mission-critical for the functionality and precision of its customers’ systems, e. g. through the precise focusing of laser beams in additive manufacturing, telecentric lenses in optical quality control, or special microscopy optics. From bespoke, customer specific developments to prototyping and serial production, Sill Optics acts as a reliable partner for blue-chip OEMs in its target markets. In addition to high-quality products, Sill Optics has earned an excellent market reputation for strong customer orientation and first-class customer service. Sill employs approximately 250 employees in Wendelstein, Bavaria.

PINOVA acquired Sill Optics from its former owners in 2019 and successfully developed it further. Under the leadership of CEO Christoph Sieber, investments have been made in coating and cleanroom technology. The management team was expanded to prepare the Company for further growth.

"Together with PINOVA, we have been able to significantly strengthen Sill Optics’ market position and expand our market leadership. In DPE, we have now found an experienced partner to drive our international growth strategy and foster technology development", says Christoph Sieber, CEO of Sill Optics.

As Herbert Seggewiß, partner at PINOVA, states: "In the past years, Sill Optics has been able to develop significantly in terms of modernising its production processes, restructuring the entire organisation and expanding sales. The company is therefore very well positioned for the next growth phase".

"Optical components and systems are employed in a wide range of rapidly growing applications. We are pleased to support Sill Optics, a strong player in this attractive market, on its growth trajectory", added Fabian Rücker, Partner at DPE.

PINOVA was advised by King & Wood Mallesons (Legal), Crowe BPG (Financial) and HLB Hußmann (Tax).

DPE was advised by Cowen (Debt Advisory), Ebner Stolz Hamburg (Financial and Tax Due Diligence), Latham (Financing), Noerr (Legal), PWC (ESG), Pöllath + Partners (Structuring) and strategy& (Commercial Due Diligence).

About PINOVA

PINOVA Capital is an independent private equity firm investing in high-growth technology companies in German-speaking regions. PINOVA Capital focuses on “Mittelstand” companies with sales between €10 million and €75 million in the sectors industrial technology and information technology, characterized by significant growth potential, sustainable competitive advantages and a strong market position in their niche.

For more information, please visit: www.pinovacapital.com

About DPE

DPE is an independent investment company which supports medium-sized companies on their growth path in its capacity as an investor in a spirit of partnership. Over the last 15 years, DPE has become one of Germany's largest growth investors and currently has total assets of over €2 billion under management. The core of DPE’s investment strategy lies in the areas of industrial technology, B2B services, energy and environmental technology, digitalization/software and healthcare. Within these sectors, DPE focuses on established companies which hold a strong market position backed by a leading product or service offering and which offer significant growth potential for the future. DPE focuses on medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and typically invests equity of €50-200 million per company.

For more information, please visit: www.dpe.de 

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