AI Fund Awards 2018

Acquisition International - 2018 International Fund Awards 17 IF180005 Best European Small-Cap Private Equity Fund 2018 & Award for Innovation in Alpha Opportunities CUDOS Capital AG Established in 2012, CUDOS was founded by seasoned entrepreneurs and financial industry professionals to bring the best to their portfolio companies. As such, the group’s investment team is supported by selected industry veterans to support their investment decisions. Michael explores the group’s investment process and how it aims to ensure strong returns for investors. “Here at CUDOS Group we are dedicated to entrepreneurial private equity, and as such we only work with fellow entrepreneurs and family offices. CUDOS has not yet sourced any institutional capital. From a portfolio perspective, we are looking for companies with a large potential for us to create value based on operative work. We have succeeded in a challenging turn-around situation, as well as with businesses growing at more than 40% per year. “Since inception CUDOS hasmade four investments over two funds (CUDOS Entrepreneurs’ Fund I and II) and is about to close two more until mid-2018. We handpick our investments and usually do one transaction per year. All deals are from proprietary and direct deal flow, we have exclusivity in 80% of all opportunities. We make sure that the deal is fair for the founders, at the same time ensuring full authority in the operative entity if needed; regardless of the shareholding we acquire. Through this approach we have been able to solve any crisis within a portfolio company quickly which is transparent in returns achieved so far.” Operating in the fast paced finance market, the group benefits from the experience of its team and is able to adapt around the constantly evolving market, as Michael highlights. “Challenging regulatory requirements have driven many small-cap PE funds out of the market in German speaking countries, especially in Austria. CUDOS is one of few remaining active players in this region. As we have adhered to highest corporate governance standards already from the beginning, increased regulatory requirements are no burden. We are not only one of few remaining players, though, we also believe to offer an optimal value proposition for our target group. “From our perspective, entrepreneurs prefer working with fellow entrepreneurs instead of mere corporate finance professionals, and as such we benefit because CUDOS Industry Group consists of seasoned industry professionals which range from old economy executives to highly successful start up entrepreneurs. Almost for any challenge we face, we have someone to work with who has the adequate functional or industry expertise.” Looking to the future, in 2018 CUDOS will have gathered a solid seed portfolio of companies of which all show strong result of value creation initiatives. Some show top-line growth of more than 40% per year, and as such the group has the potential to achieve exceptional growth over the years to come. Drawing on the vast industry experience of its founders, CUDOS Group provides funds and expertise to small- and medium sized companies in Central Europe. We caught up with Michael Steiner to find out more about the group and the range of solutions it offers to its valued clients. Company: CUDOS Capital AG Contact: Michael Steiner Address: Spiegelgasse 2/26, Vienna, 1010, Austria Phone: 0043 1 360 730 Web: www.cudos-group.com “From our perspective, entrepreneurs prefer working with fellow entrepreneurs instead of mere corporate finance professionals, and as such we benefit because CUDOS Industry Group consists of seasoned industry professionals which range from old economy executives to highly successful start up entrepreneurs. CUDOS Capital AG