Paragon acquires the WEKA group of companies
Munich — Paragon Partners, one of the leading private equity firms in Europe, acquires all shares in WEKA Firmengruppe, a leading provider of specialist information, software, training & services for the DACH region and France.
Dr. Edin Hadzic (photo), co-founder and managing director of Paragon Partners, says: “WEKA is an impressive success story, which we as a new shareholder want to continue with the management team and employees. We want to continue to strengthen the diversified structure and the entrepreneurial culture of the group of companies. The further development of markets, products and the digitization of corporate processes will continue to be a priority in the future. Targeted acquisitions to complement the 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: “I am delighted to have found in Paragon Partners a shareholder with excellent references, determination and reliability who, thanks to his experience in the media industry, brings with him all the prerequisites for the further development of the WEKA Group and with whom we see the future of WEKA, our employees and our business partners in good hands. We are delighted to be part of the Paragon family. The management and employees of the WEKA Group will also give their all for the successful continuation of the business in the new shareholder structure.”
About WEKA
WEKA was founded in 1973 by Werner and Karin Mützel as a specialist publishing house for administration and industry. Over the past decades, WEKA has developed into a diversified media group and has taken a leading market position by offering a broad range of specialist information and formats. The WEKA group of companies is headquartered in Kissing (Germany) and comprises 23 companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. WEKA generates annual sales of around EUR 250 million and employs a total of 1,500 people.
In the “Business Information & Education” segment, WEKA offers expert knowledge via print, digital (e.g. online content/databases, software, e‑learning) and face-to-face formats (e.g. seminars, continuing education and training). The focus is on regulatory and/ or technical knowledge and the innovations based on it in specific niches, such as occupational safety, hazardous materials, law and taxes, or dentistry. Content is prepared in such a way that it can be directly applied in practice and thus seamlessly integrated into the customer’s workflow.
The “Business Communication” segment provides specialist information via print (primarily magazines) and digital, event and service formats for various industries. These include, for example, industries such as electronics, ITC and building technology. The focus is on journalistic brands as well as specific data and services that inform participants and interested parties in the respective target markets. www.weka-holding.de
About Paragon Partners
Founded in 2004, Paragon is today one of the leading private equity companies in the German-speaking region with more than EUR 1.2 billion in equity under management. Paragon works closely with its portfolio companies to ensure sustainable growth and improve operational processes. The investment portfolio spans various industries (e.g., Industrial/ Professional Services, IP Management, Media Analytics) and currently comprises 14 companies. The company is based in Munich, Germany. www.paragon.de