Carlsquare advised AOE Group, a portfolio company of Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, as debt advisor on the financing of three additional acquisitions

AOE Group (“AOE”), a leading provider of agile software development services focused on individual business solutions, which previously consisted of AOE and cybersecurity solutions company Bare.ID, has expanded its ecosystem to include digital consultancy boutiques FInno Consult, ENNOstudio, and ITM research. In the future, the Group’s clients will benefit from an extensive network of specialists, extended industry know-how in the FinTech sector and broader specialist knowledge in the areas of IT consulting, system integration and digital experience.

The core competence of the three digital boutiques that are now part of the AOE Group is to design tailored strategies for innovative customer-centric business models in the front-end market and to translate these strategies into unique customer experiences. The combination of their experience as a design agency, innovation consultant and developer of customer-focused solutions with a clear focus on the financial sector and AOE’s technological expertise, including in the telecommunications environment, creates a portfolio of services that perfectly complement each other.

Under the AOE umbrella, the advantages of experienced expert boutiques now combine with the synergies and strength of a leading corporate group. An expanded range of services, especially in the consulting environment, creates lasting added value for clients. With five additional locations in Europe in Pforzheim, Vienna, Berlin, Budapest and Sarajevo, the group is ensuring dynamic growth and marking another milestone in its corporate development.

Carlsquare Debt Advisory was commissioned to support AOE Group, a portfolio company of Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, in financing the acquisition of FInno Consult, ENNOstudio and ITM Research.

Carlsquare leveraged its in-depth industry knowledge and benefited from its extensive network of contacts in the debt market. As a result of a competitive process in which Carlsquare managed the entire financing process from initial contact, structuring to facility financing, Carlsquare was able to provide the company with an attractive financing package. In addition to the unit tranche, the financing also includes a planned acquisition pipeline aimed at supporting the group’s continued organic and inorganic growth. Financing is provided by Eurazeo Global Investor, a leading private debt fund focusing on tailored, innovative financing in the SME sector.

“Thanks to the continued commitment of the Carlsquare Debt Advisory team, we managed to achieve an optimal financial solution for the company’s future strategy.
We appreciate that in Carlsquare we have a partner on our side who, in addition to structural expertise, also brings the necessary industry knowledge to optimally position the company, especially with regard to credit history.” – Kevin Kunze, investment manager at Deutsche Beteiligungs AG

Carlsquare acted as the exclusive debt advisor to the AOE Group / Deutsche Beteiligungs AG in this transaction.

AOE Group

Deutsche Beteiligungs AG