Centric GmbH is a German company that provides a range of IT solutions and services. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Essen, Germany. Centric GmbH offers a variety of services, including software development, implementation, and support, as well as IT consulting and outsourcing.

EBZ SE is a German company with extensive experience in providing turnkey solutions, planning and engineering services for the automotive industry, as well as composite materials manufacturing for the aerospace industry. The company offers customised solutions for the development of smart systems, Industry 4.0, e-mobility and hydrogen technology. EBZ SE is committed to innovation and adapting to emerging trends to provide high quality solutions to its automotive and aerospace industry customers.

Advising Centric GmbH on the sale to EBZ SE

Transaction by Felix Engelhardt, CFA

Felix Engelhardt, CEO and founder of ZUMERA

, has been leading an interdisciplinary team since 2020, with whom he was responsible for the growth of business and internationalisation at Saxenhammer and is continuing the path to become Europe’s Nr.1 M&A firm under the new brand. Prior to that, he led the M&A advisory business of an SME-focused boutique and gained several years of experience in the transaction departments (IBD) of Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank and UBS, where he spent around three years each in Frankfurt and London. He completed his academic career with a Master of Finance at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, is a CFA Charterholder and a regular guest lecturer at renowned universities, such as Maastricht and Mannheim and the Frankfurt School of Finance. Before his studies, he realised a successful exit as a managing partner of a digital agency.

Felix grew up in Berlin as the son of a tax consultant and auditor and a judge. His youth was shaped by team sports (field hockey) and a strong affinity for competition, business and law. During his school years in England, Felix was significantly influenced by an accounting teacher, whereupon he decided to immerse himself in the world of business and finance. After working in London, Madrid and Frankfurt, he returned to Berlin in 2017, where he now lives with his wife and fourteen-year-old daughter.

Today, Felix Engelhardt is one of the leading experts and "influencers" in the German-speaking financial sector in the area of corporate finance and M&A, which is reflected in +24,000 followers on LinkedIn and numerous key-notes at industry summits and major fairs.

CEO & Founder

The German technology sector plays a significant role in the digital era. The industry is not only an important economic sector with an annual turnover of over EUR 280 bn, over one million jobs and a share of almost 7% of total economic output, but also a key driver of innovation that influences and promotes other sectors.

Future Trends

The Internet of Things and 5G enable innovative business models such as autonomous driving, telemedicine and the control of networked machines. There are already about 750 million network-enabled devices in Germany. As-a-service and cloud-based models offer new revenue streams while reducing costs.




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The technology sector in Germany finds itself in a thoroughly ambivalent market environment. The segments are developing differently, while software and services are important growth drivers, sales in the hardware sector are stagnating.

Current Developments 

Software as the driver of the industry

The technology sector in Germany has a significant role as an innovation driver and many other industries benefit from its technological achievements and business models. The software segment has great growth potential and the high-margin special hardware sector also offers attractive prospects. 
The technology sector is an important factor for Germany's success and economic development.



Our View

Technology

Zumera has in-depth technical and industry knowledge and can leverage a broad network of industry experts who have gained many years of transaction experience. 

People & Voices

The interplay of connectivity and new network infrastructures is generating huge, additional volumes of data. Analytics and AI assist in leveraging data effectively.

Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

We search for and identify potential investors, prepare all transaction documents, and accompany our clients along the entire M&A process. 

Sell-side M&A

We accompany our clients along the entire M&A process.

Contact Person

How we support you

The Process

Sectors for this service

Our portfolio

TRANSACTIONS 

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Download software trends 2021

General

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Sectors

Services

Transactions

About Us

About

The takeover of a target company is an attractive option for promoting growth. We support our clients throughout the entire process – from the selection of the target company to its successful completion. 


Buy-side M&A

An attractive option for promoting your own growth.

Fundraising thrives on access to an extensive international network. We represent our clients with our partner companies in offices in over 30 countries worldwide in their search for capital.

Fundraise 

We represent our clients in seeking capital.

Fundraise

We advise our clients throughout the merger process – from identifying the right solution to overcoming specific challenges and ensuring that they achieve their strategic goals.

Merger

We advise our clients throughout the entire merger process.

Financing corporate growth with new sources of capital and optimising existing financing structures are central pillars of a company’s strategic development. We offer our clients targeted solutions and great implementation expertise, even in complex situations. 

Debt Advisory 

We offer targeted solutions to our clients.

Debt Advisory

Advising a business in a crisis or during insolvency proceedings requires an adapted approach. We offer our clients exceptional speed and discretion without neglecting their business objectives.

Special Situations

We offer extraordinary speed and discretion.

Distressed M&A

Financial Restructuring

The automotive sector represents the core of the German economy. No other sector plays such a decisive role for Germany's prosperity, international success and jobs in the country. 

A highly interconnected value creation structure composed of various industries links the automotive sector to the state of the economy.

Zumera Trendzoom

The automotive industry is set to undergo radical change in the future as more and more technology companies enter the market. With the increasing influence of software, the exchange of data and autonomous driving will become crucial elements of mobility.

Regardless, the efficient and high-quality production of automobiles and components remains of great importance.



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The automotive industry is experiencing one of the most significant and engaging times in its history. Technological progress, especially in terms of alternative drive technologies, is allowing the development of new business models such as ride sharing. 
The thriving sharing economy and easy access to capital are also lowering the barriers of entry into the market.

Current Developments

Automobile industry in the course of time

The automotive industry is undergoing a transformation: manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly using automation technologies, leading to a profound change in the value chain. In the future, the focus will no longer be on the car alone, but on mobility as a whole. 
Although the potential of the market is great, many players in the industry are under pressure. The medium-sized business landscape in particular is subject to strong consolidation pressures.

Our M&A perspective

Automotive Industry

Zumera has in-depth technical and industry knowledge and can draw on a broad network of industry experts with many years of transaction experience. 

The consolidation of the automotive industry in Germany is progressing. With the recovery from the Corona pandemic, a trend towards size and thus a wave of takeovers is dawning.  

Consolidation

The service sector is a fundamental economic sector in Germany, as it accounts for three quarters of all jobs and generates about two thirds of the gross domestic product. In recent years, the market has developed strongly, often with double-digit growth rates, due to excellent infrastructure, high productivity rates and highly skilled workforce.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, will revolutionise the way products are made. Digital and physical services can be combined to meet the individual needs of customers. New, intelligent service architectures and platforms enable innovative business models that change existing value chains. The sector is showing excellent growth potential. 


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Almost 80% of all companies in Germany are service providers, and advances in technology are constantly creating new business opportunities. A moderate cost development for labour and a stable employment situation further increase the attractiveness of Germany as a business location.

Promise Service 4.0

Business-related services show great opportunities for growth, especially in the German SME sector. Here, too, progressive digitalisation is revealing itself to be the driving force of activity. Conventional services are also increasingly being integrated into digital value creation. The possibilities of digitalisation will not only change industry, but also the service sector in a lasting and fundamental way.


Business Services

Smart services combine physical and digital services to create new, intelligent products and digitally enhanced business models. They are becoming increasingly important in the course of Industry 4.0.  

Smart Service Solutions

With around 460,000 direct and over 500,000 indirect employees, the chemical industry has an impact on Germany as an industrial location. 

It is expected that hardly any technological revolutions will take place that affect production as a whole. As a result, companies in the future define themselves as part of a smart ecosystem enabled by the collaboration of different industries. 

Scale, economies of scale and optimisations of productivity and costs will remain essential factors for success.


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There is a worldwide change in demand and value chains in the chemical industry. While the life cycles of chemical products are becoming progressively shorter, society is demanding more energy and resource efficiency. 

A sector in structural transition.

The chemical market is undergoing a major shift as manufacturers in emerging and commodity-rich countries expand their capabilities and focus on the specialty chemicals sector, which was previously served by German exports. 

New targets and demand patterns are influencing consumer behaviour, causing a wave of concentration in the SME sector.



Chemicals & Polymers

Zumera has in-depth professional and industry knowledge and can draw on a broad network of industry experts with many years of transaction experience.

Linear supply chains are evolving into multi-layered economic networks as the recycling of materials and molecules becomes increasingly important. 

Circular economy

Germany is Europe's largest consumer market with a population of over 80 m and above-average purchasing power. The industry is considered robust because demand for consumer goods is largely independent of economic fluctuations.

In business, it is becoming increasingly important to have a deep understanding of your customers and their needs in order to guarantee customised products and an excellent customer experience. This is also an important factor to be successful in competition due to low market entry barriers and low capital costs. Companies need to constantly review their business processes in order to operate as efficiently as possible. 

 


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With digitalisation, the image of the typical consumer is changing. The customer expects a seamless cross-channel experience and often informs himself thoroughly online about the purchase process. Therefore, the importance of the customer experience and the customer journey is increasing.


Client first boosts innovation in the sector

First, we see a concentration of trade and consumer goods companies on their core areas, which they strengthen by selling non-relevant companies and simultaneously acquiring suitable companies. This leads to an increase in M&A activity. 

Secondly, there is a focus on improving the customer experience. Stationary retail companies are investing more in e-commerce to build digital capabilities.


Consumer & Retail

Zumera has in-depth technical and industry knowledge and can draw on a broad network of industry experts who have gained many years of transaction experience. 

The increasing share of online shoppers is permanently changing the touchpoints of the customer journey. Marketing measures and influences on the part of companies must be adapted.  

Customer Journey

The German packaging industry is responsible for the production of packaging for the logistics sector and end consumer products. The sub-sectors include paper, plastic, metal, glass and wood. The packaging industry is in a difficult situation as it has to react quickly to changes in customer needs.

The digital printing sector will continue to grow in the coming years. Drivers of this trend are the variety of products, shorter product cycles and a trend towards individualisation and serial numbering of packaging. 
Another important topic is the safety of products and food. The main issue here is that 40 % of food still spoils before it reaches the customer.



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In recent years, sustainability has emerged as one of the most important trends. Consumers are paying more and more attention to the environmental friendliness and multi-purpose suitability of their packaging.

Sustainability and digitalisation as drivers for the sector

The packaging industry market in the DACH region is fragmented and smaller medium-sized companies cannot keep up with the challenges in the long term. Smart and green packaging continue to gain importance, while digital packaging and bio-plastics stand out as growth drivers. Therefore, material properties and functionality are becoming increasingly important in the packaging sector.


Containers & Packaging

Processes that aim to improve and enhance the properties and functionalities of packaging units. Annual growth rates in this area are 15%-20%.   

Smart Packaging

Germany is one of Europe's largest education and training markets. Annual expenditure in Germany amounts to approximately EUR 220 bn. The extended sector in particular, which is dominated by private-sector players, is becoming increasingly important. Here, there is more freedom to make decisions than in the incumbent areas such as K-12 education. This means that new business models such as e-learning have the potential to revolutionize the way people pursue their education. 

Transnational education (TNB) is a global trend that is becoming increasingly important in the higher education market. More and more educational institutions are running their academic programmes in cooperation with branches or franchising arrangements in different countries. 

Next to TNB, Educational Technology (EdTech) offers some of the greatest growth potential in the education market. International EdTech spending has more than doubled from approximately EUR 135 bn in 2019 to approximately EUR 305 bn in 2020, but to date, it accounts for only 2.6% of global education spending.


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The education market is a global growth market. Population growth, demographic change and, not least, the COVID-19 pandemic are driving the increasing demand for digital education and learning solutions. The proportion of young adults with tertiary education has increased from 35% to 44% in OECD member countries between 2008 and 2018, reflecting the increased global demand for a skilled workforce.

E-learning as a growth driver

The education and training market is a growth market with great potential, especially in the digital environment. The Covid 19 pandemic strongly reinforced the demand for digital learning and education opportunities. 

Cloud technologies and artificial intelligence will also influence the education market. Global technology companies are increasingly entering the market, triggering a wave of consolidation.  



Education Services

The demand for private education and training is continuously increasing. The market holds great potential, especially in the area of e-learning.  

Private education providers

Germany has been a global pioneer in the application of renewable energies and environmental technologies for decades. The energy transition remains an integral part of the German energy landscape with ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 % by 2050 and to increase the share of renewables in total energy consumption to 60 %. The energy and water supply sector in Germany employed almost 260 k people at the end of 2020.

The energy supply of the future is based on green, digital and networked technology. Stimulating economic programmes, which are a consequence of the corona pandemic, are accelerating the growth of energy supply and contributing to more efficient energy production. Blockchain technologies support this trend. In Vienna, a start-up already enables neighbours to exchange electricity demand. In the future, this model will be fully automated.  


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The liberalisation and deregulation of the energy sector is complemented by the digital transformation, which is an integral part of the energy transition. The energy industry is intensively dedicated to the management of large amounts of data originating from feed-in, smart metering and the operation of the grid.

Energy efficiency as the non plus ultra. 

The conventional business methods of the energy industry, such as producing, transporting and selling electricity, have reached their capacity limits. Due to technological, economic and political megatrends, there are new opportunities for the energy industry. 

The right fields must now be identified and strategically developed in order to exploit all potentials and successfully complete the energy transition.


Our M&A Perspective 

Energy & Environment

Digital smart systems that continuously monitor power flows in the building, production in rooftop PV systems and charging of e-cars in the garage to create self-sufficiency.

Energy self-sufficiency

The food and luxury food sector is an important industry in Germany that contributes significantly to the development of the sector on a global level. Around 640,000 employees currently make their living in the approximately 6,200, mainly medium-sized companies. 

Future trends 

Investors pay particular attention to an efficient production process as well as innovative and lucrative products when investing in the food and beverage industry. Greater health awareness among the population is leading to growth in the market for alternative meat and dairy products. Companies are waiting in the wings to bring cell-based production of meat, fish and dairy products to the market. Furthermore, sustainability and regionality continue to gain in importance.


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Changes in consumer behaviour are influenced by a number of societal trends. An increasingly ageing population and heightened health awareness will lead to an increase in demand for health and wellness products as well as functional foods.

Plant-based alternative products are in vogue

The German market for food and luxury food products is influenced by changes in consumer behaviour. The trend towards sustainability has a direct impact on the industry. Plant-based alternative products are becoming more and more popular, leading to increasing consolidation pressure on the fragmented German market.

Food & Beverage

Companies plan to transition from traditional livestock farming to a more sustainable model based on the production of animal products from cell cultures.

Alternative meat, fish, and dairy products

The health economy is one of the largest sectors of the German economy and contributes significantly to growth through its creativity and high employment rate. It consists of three sub-sectors: medical care, the industrial health economy and other sub-sectors. circa 5.8 million people are employed in this sector and that is about 17% of all employees in Germany.

Medical progress is creating modern treatment methods that make it possible to provide new drugs and personalised therapies. However, these can be associated with higher costs and longer approval times. 

In addition, there is a change in the disease pattern of the population, which is generally more susceptible to chronic diseases and mental disorders. As a result, demanding and costly therapies will increase in demand over longer periods of time.  



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Health has become a ubiquitous topic and a trend that is developing rapidly. An increased proportion of elderly people and greater health awareness are driving growth in the industry. The Covid 19 pandemic significantly increased the demand for health products, which also led to an increase in PE activities and assessments.

Fragmented, but infallible

The health sector is clearly on the rise. An ageing population and increased health awareness are key factors that continue to drive growth. 

Technological progress means that new medicines and therapeutic methods can be developed. The ubiquitous shortage of experts, especially in the nursing professions, remains problematic. In general, we observe a trend towards size, which will lead to a consolidation of the fragmented market. 



Healthcare

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News & Sector Update

Sector Transactions

The number of private healthcare providers is increasing, while the number of hospitals overall is decreasing. Larger providers emerge to leverage economies of scale.  

Privatisation and consolidation

Germany is among the top 3 largest manufacturers of machinery. The machinery and plant engineering sector is a leading force in exports and innovation. The industry, which is strongly characterised by small and medium-sized enterprises, is responsible for the production of complex goods for the economy and the creation of technologically sophisticated preliminary products.

Industry 4.0 has a strong influence on the structure and progress of mechanical and plant engineering. The demand for software expertise continues to grow, as software-based services are already integral parts of existing business models. New materials also allow completely new approaches to products and production processes. Materials such as laser crystals or customisable plastics are being rapidly developed and brought to market.




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In recent years, the mechanical and plant engineering sector has faced up to the challenges of digitalisation. The implementation of digital production processes offers industrial companies promising prospects in the context of the smart factory and the fourth industrial revolution.

The engine  of the German economy.

Mechanical and plant engineering is an example of the broad capabilities of German industry and is one of the most innovative sectors. The development of Industry 4.0 offers potential for optimisation along the entire value chain. In the future, new markets will emerge and factors such as digitalisation, climate protection and mobility will determine revenue.

Industrial

Digital twins are the digital representation of physical objects and systems that can be used to optimise and link processes, improve production, and minimise failure rates.

Digital twins

The construction industry is a clear growth market and a decisive economic factor for Germany. In 2021, the sector made up 5.9% of the overall economy, with companies in the construction industry achieving a turnover of around 192 billion euros. The sector includes the main construction trade with 75,000 as well as the finishing trade with a total of around 250,000 companies, which show annual growth rates of 4.9%.


The development of innovative approaches opens up a greater opportunity for the active involvement of clients in planning processes. The increasing environmental awareness in our society will be reflected in the construction industry, such as the recycling of materials in closed systems.
In addition, the use of software solutions, such as novel simulation and calculation methods, is steadily increasing.


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In Germany, the construction industry is enjoying rapid development. A growing population, changes in the demographic structure and a positive economic situation are causing a high demand for housing. In addition, forms of housing such as multi-generation houses, micro-apartments and prefabricated houses are becoming increasingly popular.

Growth market with room for digital innovation.

The growing use of digital technologies is influencing the construction industry to an ever greater extent. Machine learning, artificial intelligence and 3D printing are expected to increase efficiency and reduce construction costs. 

At the same time, the challenge of skills shortages remains for the industry. Therefore, the growth of the industry as a whole is strongly linked to the employment situation in companies. This increases the pressure to consolidate, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Our M&A perspective 

Building & Infrastructure

Zumera has in-depth professional and industry knowledge and can draw on a broad network of industry experts who have gained many years of transaction experience. 

BIM aims to digitise the collaboration between the different parties in a construction project. Its use increases transparency and plan accuracy of the process.  

Advising Centric GmbH on the sale to EBZ SE

Represented by Felix Engelhardt, CFA

Transaction Team

CEO & Founder

Felix Engelhardt, CFA

Technology

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