Deutsche Beteiligungs AG continues value realisation with successful disposal of Kraft & Bauer investment out of DBAG Fund VII to Syngroh Capital, the investment entity of the Grohe family

• Leading provider of fire extinguishing systems for tooling machines sold to the investment entity of the Grohe family
• Performance driven by expanded range of services and geographic diversification
• Following the highly successful duagon exit, as well as investments in MAIT, FinMatch and Totalmobile, this is now DBAG’s fifth transaction in just six months
• Strong deal momentum in challenging market environment underlines DBAG’s strong position in the mid-market segment             

Frankfurt/Main, 11 March 2026. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG) and the private equity fund DBAG Fund VII advised by DBAG are selling their investment in Kraft & Bauer to Syngroh, the investment entity of the Grohe family. The transaction was signed and closed today. The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the purchase price.

Kraft & Bauer develops, produces and installs fire extinguishing systems for a large range of tooling machines and is one of the leading players in this market. The systems are mainly used in high-power milling, turning and grinding machines that are exposed to a high risk of fire, helping industrial companies to avoid unplanned downtime, production outages and damage to property.

DBAG and the fund it advises purchased a majority stake in Kraft & Bauer from a financial investor, the founding family and the management in 2018 as part of a management buyout. Since then, the company has further solidified its position in the market for fire extinguishing systems for tooling machines and expanded its international footprint beyond the core markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Kraft & Bauer also continues to provide services to customers after installing its fire extinguishing systems as these have to undergo regular inspection and maintenance. 

During the investment period, Kraft & Bauer’s core business was continuously expanded in close collaboration with the management team and the founding family. DBAG believes that now is the right time to hand over the investment to a new owner who will be involved in the next growth phase, while offering a high degree of continuity and a clear vision for the long term.

As Tom Alzin, Spokesman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, said: “When we invested in Kraft & Bauer in 2018, we knew that fire protection for tooling machines is part of the business-critical infrastructure for manufacturing companies. The fact that Syngroh Capital is now taking over the reins is, in our view, a clear indication that Kraft & Bauer’s business model is sound. It also speaks for the sterling work carried out by its team in recent years. This exit also demonstrates to our fund investors that our decision to focus on selected industrial niches was the right one.”

“With DBAG by our side, we were able to sharpen our profile as a specialist for fire extinguishing systems in the industrial manufacturing sector. We streamlined processes, expanded our service business and acquired new customers – while remaining true to our DNA as a mid-market technology company”, said Klaus Bauer, founder of Kraft & Bauer and Chairman of its Advisory Board.

Frank Foddi, Managing Director of Kraft & Bauer, added: “We are now taking the next step with Syngroh Capital. We aim to share our expertise with new markets and to capitalise even more from the fact that safe and stable production processes are more vital than ever for our customers.”

“Kraft & Bauer is very well positioned in an attractive market: the company’s solutions help keep its customers’ production running safely and reliably – and that is exactly what makes the business so relevant. Over recent years, the management team and DBAG have done a great deal of groundwork by systematically aligning the company around recurring service revenues, international expansion and scalable structures. We look forward to actively supporting Kraft & Bauer in its continued international growth and the further expansion of the business,” said Richard Grohe, Managing Director of Syngroh Capital.

By investing in Multimon AG, which now trades under the Firian brand name, DBAG increased its exposure to the fire protection segment over the past years and held a stake in a European provider of turnkey fire protection systems. The Kraft & Bauer exit fits perfectly with DBAG’s strategy of focusing on specialised companies that reap the benefits of megatrends such as automation, safety, security and regulatory requirements.

Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG) has been listed since 1985 and is one of the most renowned private equity firms in Germany. As an investor and fund advisor, DBAG traditionally focuses on mid-market companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (the “DACH” region), and especially on well-positioned companies offering growth potential. DBAG’s sector focus is on manufacturers, industrial service providers and IndustryTech enterprises – businesses whose products facilitate automation, robotics and digitalisation – as well as on companies from the IT services, software, healthcare, and environment, energy and infrastructure sectors. Since 2020, DBAG has been present on the Italian market, providing its services from its office in Milan since 2021. DBAG Group’s assets under management or advisory amount to approximately 2.7 billion euros. ELF Capital has expanded DBAG’s range of flexible financing solutions for mid-market companies to include private debt.
 

Deutsche Beteiligungs AG
Senior Manager Investor Relations & Public Relations · Youssef Zauaghi
Untermainanlage 1 · 60329 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Telephone +49 69 95787-363 · +49 175 7032271 (mobile)
E-mail: youssef.zauaghi@dbag.de