GCA Altium advises WEKA on its sale to Paragon Partners

GCA Altium acted as exclusive financial adviser to the shareholder on the sale of the WEKA Group, a leading provider of specialist information, software, further education and services for the German-speaking region and France, to Paragon Partners, one of the leading independent private equity firms in the German-speaking region.

WEKA was founded in 1973 as a specialist publishing company for administration and industry. Over the last decades, WEKA developed into a diversified media group and has achieved a leading market position by offering a wide range of specialist information across various formats. The WEKA Group has its headquarters in Kissing, Germany, and comprises 23 companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. WEKA has a total of 1,500 employees and generates an annual turnover of around EUR 250 million.

In the area of Business Information and Education, WEKA offers expert knowledge and further education via print, digital and face-to-face formats such as online content, databases, software, e-learning, and seminars. The focus is on the transfer of regulatory and technical knowledge and respective updates in specific niche industries such as occupational safety, hazardous goods, law and taxation or dentistry. The content and its formats are highly practice oriented and thus seamlessly integrated into the customer’s workflow.

WEKA’s Business Communication segment provides specialist information for various industries including electronics, ITC and building technology. The focus of this segment is on journalistic brands as well as specific data and services that inform on the respective target markets.

Dr. Edin Hadzic, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Paragon Partners, said: „WEKA is an impressive success story which we are looking forward to continuing as new shareholder. Together with the management team and the employees we want to further strengthen the diversified structure and entrepreneurial spirit of the group. The ongoing development of markets, products and the digitalization of corporate processes will continue to be a key priority. Targeted acquisitions to complement the current portfolio will remain part of the corporate strategy. We welcome WEKA to the Paragon family and look forward to working with them.“

Wolfgang Materna, Managing Director of WEKA Holding, added: „I am happy to have found in Paragon Partners a determined and reliable shareholder with excellent references. This, coupled with its experience in the media industry, lays the foundation for the successful further development of the WEKA Group. With Paragon we see the future of WEKA, our employees and our business partners in good hands and we are eager to become part of the Paragon family. Under new ownership, the management and employees of the WEKA Group will continue to strive for WEKA’s success.“

About GCA

GCA Altium is the European business of GCA, a global investment bank that provides strategic M&A and capital markets advisory services to growth companies and market leaders. The firm offers worldwide coverage with over 500 employees in 25 offices across America, Asia and Europe. Built by the people that run the business, GCA is a firm of experts who focus on deals that require commitment, original perspective, skill and exceptional networks.

For further information about GCA Altium, please visit www.gcaaltium.com