Bank recommendations Germany

July 02, 2025

by a searcher from WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Hamburg, Germany

For searchers and owners in Germany: can you recommend banks / lending partners to finance company acquisitions in a classic equity + debt structure of a self-funded searcher? Any tipps and contacts are appreciated! Many thanks!

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Reply by an investor
from University of St. Gallen in Berlin, Deutschland

I agree with @rado - the seller's bank is also familiar with the company. Apart from that, i have heard that Hypovereinsbank can be a good place to start.

Reply by a professional-advisory
from Heinrich in Düsseldorf, Germany

I'd say it really depends – particularly in the small-cap space, personal relationships are often more important than the institution itself. Many regional banks in Germany, like Sparkassen or Volksbanken, regularly support acquisition financings and can offer surprisingly attractive terms. A key advantage is that you're often dealing with local decision-makers rather than centralized credit teams, which can make a real difference. That's why it's hard to recommend a specific bank – it's less about the name and more about who you know within the bank and how well they understand entrepreneurial deals. For self-funded searchers, I’d generally be cautious with larger institutions like Deutsche Bank or Commerzbank. They tend to have very structured processes and strict covenant requirements, which can limit flexibility – especially when you're trying to make use of the inefficiencies that exist in this segment. If you’re actively looking at a deal and need support with financing, feel free to reach out. We’re involved in a number of small-cap acquisition financing processes and have a broad network of contacts – often allowing us to move quickly and get to term sheets fast.

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