Frankfurt a. M. - Argos Wityu acquires stake in aktivoptik Group. The majority stake in aktivoptik Group (aktivoptik) was acquired as part of a succession plan by Argos Wityu through its Fund VII. King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) advised Argos Wityu on the acquisition of a majority stake in aktivoptik Group, the fifth largest chain of opticians and acousticians in Germany.
Rolf Schneider, founder and previous majority shareholder of aktivoptik, will continue to hold a minority stake and will continue in his role as CEO to ensure continuity. The transaction is still subject to antitrust clearance.
Founded in 1989 asArgos Soditic, ArgosWityu is an independent, pan-European investment firm focused on management buy-outs, buy-ins and spin-offs of small and medium-sized companies with an enterprise value between €20 and €200 million. The German office is located in Frankfurt a. Main. With its investment in aktivoptik, Argos Wityu is now continuing the investment approach of sustainable value enhancement through strategic and operational improvements as well as growth, which it has pursued since its foundation, in Germany as well. https://argos.wityu.fund/
About aktivoptik
aktivoptik, based in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, was founded in 1989. The group, which has grown at an above-average rate compared to the opticians’ industry as a whole since the founding of its first store, is now one of the five largest opticians’ and acousticians’ chains in Germany, with 76 locations, around 560 employees and most recently reported annual sales of around 50 million euros. The proven business model of aktivoptik forms the basis for continuing the successful growth course of the past 30 years with the new majority shareholder Argos Wityu.
Advisor to Argos Wityu: King & Wood Mallesons
Dr. Michael Roos (Partner), Markus Herz (Partner), Floris Schilling (Associate), Dr. Laura Schumann (Associate), Dr. Katrin Thoma (Associate) (all M&A, Corporate), Dr. Johannes Reitzel (Counsel, Labor Law)
Markus Hill (Partner, Tax and Structuring)