European private equity firm IK Partners has entered Germany’s occupational pensions sector with the acquisition of specialist administrator Lohoff Pension Services.

The London-based investor said the deal was executed through its IK Small Cap III Fund, acquiring the business from founders Petra and Heinz-Günter Lohoff. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Lohoff provides outsourced occupational pension administration for both SMEs and DAX-listed corporates, with a strong focus on digital solutions that automate and tailor processes, systems and reporting frameworks. The firm counts large German corporates including BMW, Thyssenkrupp and Covestro among its long-standing clients.

The acquisition marks IK Partners’ first investment in the German pensions space, expanding a portfolio that includes businesses in healthcare, industrials and business services across the country.

IK said it will support Lohoff’s plans to strengthen its position in the German bAV (betrieblichen Altersversorgung) market by expanding its product suite, developing new vertical-specific software solutions and investing in digital infrastructure.

Martin de Vries, managing director at Lohoff, said: “With over two decades of experience in designing, implementing and administering pension plans, we are well positioned to benefit from long-term structural growth in the market.”

He noted that “IK brings the strategic insight and expertise required to support Lohoff in its next phase of growth”.

Co-managing director Sebastian Hinz added: “Lohoff’s unique capabilities in digital integration and service customisation have allowed us to build lasting relationships with clients managing complex pension structures.”

Commenting on the transaction, Ingmar Bär, partner at IK and advisor to the IK Small Cap III Fund, said Lohoff had established itself as a provider of specialist pension administration services in a resilient, regulation-driven market.

Its strong IT capabilities and flexible service model offer a solid platform for further growth, he added.

The latest digital edition of IPE’s magazine is now available

 

Luigi is IPE's Berlin-based DACH correspondent. His coverage includes regulation and the latest pensions and investments trends, and, being a native Italian, he also covers Italy’s pensions market. He has reported from Italy and Germany on international politics and business for European and US publications including USA Today, Bloomberg BNA and for the investigative magazine L’Espresso. He was previously Germany correspondent for Mergermarket covering M&A.View full Profile

More from Luigi Serenelli

Topics