We take over and develop companies – long-term as entrepreneurs.

PHILOSOPHY

It is important ...

… that companies continue to exist and develop positively.

FRESH|MINDS is a new family-owned holding company that was founded after a successful business sale.
 

Unlike rather short-term oriented private equity funds or passive financial investors, we see ourselves on the one hand as possible buyers of long-standing successful companies in an unregulated succession situation or in a difficult development phase. On the other hand, we see ourselves as buyers of companies that need innovative ideas to take the next big step.

Many companies reach a point where they must consider a partial or total sale. Whether it is a matter of capital, succession or reorganization.

Then it frequently requires a new outside majority shareholder. This succeeds, however, only if they are genuine partners who wish to actively and operationally develop the company as entrepreneurs.

FRESH|MINDS is precisely that partner.

We start with the promise to use all our experience to provide new opportunities for your company, as well as to preserve or lead it into a new phase that is right for you.

Because we are entrepreneurs, just like you, and we understand that preserving value is synonymous with preserving the company.

COMPANY

FRESH|MINDS ...

… is a reliable, experienced, and knowledgeable partner.

  • FRESH|MINDS was founded in 2019 as a result of a successful company sale and successful real estate projects of FreshMinds Business Development GmbH & Co KG

  • FRESH|MINDS is a family-owned Austrian holding company focused on the acquisition of small and medium-sized enterprises (annual turnover ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 100 million) in the GAS (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) region

  • FRESH|MINDS offers flexible and quick decisions and acquisition agreements without long-term and complex institutional processes

  • FRESH|MINDS concentrates on the following sectors:
    – Manufacturing industry (industrial goods and consumer goods)
    – Retail and service businesses
    – Online businesses

  • FRESH|MINDS focuses primarily on businesses in succession situations, as well as businesses in low profitability situations or situations involving insolvency and spin-offs of neglected divisions of larger corporations

  • Above all, FRESH|MINDS is also looking for companies with the potential for operational improvements

  • FRESH|MINDS has a capable team that has participated in over 20 successful company acquisitions. Detailled references are gladly provided

TARGETS

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The target of our investments ...

… is the long-term, positive, and, above all, ongoing development of the company through:

  • Focus on profitable products and customers

  • Restructuring, increased efficiency and cost reductions of the operational business

  • Generic and profitable sales growth trough:
    ‒ Logical extensions and further developments of product and service portfolios
    ‒ Intensification of product development and product innovation
    ‒ Expansion into new business areas
    ‒ Establishment of new markets and sales channels
    ‒ Focus on sales and the sales organization

FOCUS

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Our investments are focused ...

… on potential acquisitions in the following situations:

  • Succession:
    Entrepreneurs and businesses looking for a successor and the continuation of their business

  • Turnarounds:
    Low-profitability or slightly loss-making businesses (e.g., as a result of Covid 19) that are undergoing or require a change process

  • Carve-outs:
    Carve-outs of non-strategic business areas of larger companies

CRITERIA

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We are looking for ...

… potential acquisitions with the following investment criteria:

  • Existing companies with a solid business and organizational base

  • Production and service companies (industrial goods, consumer goods, services) and online business models

  • Companies with an existing product and sales structure and growth opportunities in terms of sales and earnings

  • Companies in the GAS region – opportunistically also across Europe, especially neighbouring countries such as Italy, BeNeLux, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe

  • Annual turnover between EUR 10 million – EUR 100 million („small-cap“ – companies)

  • EBITDA margin: positive to slightly negative

  • Only majority acquisitions, ideally 100%

  • Flexible transaction structures

  • No investment in “start-ups”, “seed financing” or “new venture” situations

COMPETENCE

Depending on the intensity and scope of the order, ...

... I will advise you alone or with a team of competent and experienced specialists under my leadership.

Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. (FH) Christian Herbst
Managing Director and Sole Shareholder

More than 15 years of experience as successful entrepreneur ranging from starting-up to exit, as well as more than ten years of „hands-on“ management experience in prestigious international corporations. 

Attended the University of Applied Sciences in Munich and majored in industrial engineering. Previous technical training in mechanical engineering at Salzburg’s HTBLA (Higher Technical Federal Institute).

  • Foundation and management of FreshMinds Business Development GmbH & Co KG (successful sale in 2019)

  • Product management, sales, and key account management at PHILIPS Austria and the Dutch headquarters

  • Sales management at SONY DADC in Austria

  • Design Engineer at MANNESMANN DEMAG

  • Activities during studies at FISCHER SKI, ATOMIC SKI, PLASSER & THEURER and also KÄSSBOHRER

Mag. Dr. Siegmund Rudigier, MBA (INSEAD)
Associated M&A Projectpartner

More than 15 years of M&A expertise in sourcing, negotiating and successfully closing company acquisitions as „Partner M&A“ and „Senior Advisor M&A“ of international private equity funds and investment companies. More than 10 years of experience as founder, majority shareholder and managing director of a family holding company.

More than 20 years of experience in consulting as an independent „senior consultant“ of prestigious international companies, – especially in projects with a focus on strategy, growth, M&A, restructuring and brand management.

More than 15 years of operational top management competence as „hands-on“ CEO of international consumer goods and luxury companies.

Master and PhD Studies in Business Administration and Commercial Science at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and MBA Studies at INSEAD in Fontainebleau (France).

  • „Senior Advisor M&A“ at QUANTUM CAPITAL PARTNERS (Munich) and „Partner M&A“ at BAVARIA INDUSTRIES GROUP AG (Munich) as well as „Management Affiliate“ at MID OCEAN PARTNERS (London, New York)

  • Founder, majority shareholder and CEO of the private family holding and investment company
    IBH Holding (Salzburg)

  • Consultant at McKinsey (Düsseldorf, Munich, Vienna) and “Senior Consultant” for well-known international companies

  • CEO and Managing Director for international companies such as JOHNSON & JOHNSON; WOLFORD; DONNA KARAN (LVMH); COMTESSE and PORSCHE DESIGN GROUP

Dr. Siegfried Mörz
Associated Advisor

Decades of experience in the capital market and investment business, structuring and execution of around 100 financial transactions (private and public equity) paired with an international network and long-term business relationships with well-known entrepreneurs.

  • Managing Director of AUSTRO Holding, an investment holding under the leadership of Dr. Grossnigg

  • Head of and responsible for all merchant banking/private equity activities at ERSTE GROUP

  • Management Board spokesperson and founding partner of CAPEXIT, ERSTE BANK’s private equity group

  • Head of the Capital Markets department at ERSTE BANK

www.mco.co.at

CONTACT

Contact

FRESH|MINDS Holding GmbH

Franz-Josef-Straße 4/3
5020 Salzburg
Austria

Kontaktdaten-4-aktuell