Intro

We believe in
Good Entrepreneurship.

Investing with Entrepreneurs
to create strong returns and positive impact.

# 01

We jump on every bandwagon and have to join every hype.

Not. We only invest in long-term themes with "tailwind" and focus on companies that help to advance key issues of our society. The healthcare industry plays a key role in this.

Jörg Debatin,
GENUI Entrepreneur
Alain M. Cahen,
Managing Director labor team
Olivier Franscella,
Investment Advisor (GENUI AG, Switzerland)

This is how we did it at labor team

labor team
Alain M. Cahen, Managing Director labor team

"The GENUI team supports us on how to build a great culture when running a patient-oriented healthcare service business and how organisations in our industry can significantly scale up in line with best in class environmental, social and governance procedures.“

Jörg Debatin, GENUI Entrepreneur

As CEO of amedes, Jörg brought his experience in building one of the largest chains of medical laboratories in Europe. He is Chairman of the Advisory Board and can contribute his expertise in building an efficient organisational structure, implementing a targeted sales strategy as well as improving profitability through automation.

Max Odefey, GENUI Investor

Is co-founder of GENUI and together with Jörg Debatin and Olivier Franscella accompanies the labor team with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of among others Market Logic Software, the Brace Group (former Schendel & Pawlaczyk), mymuesli, Acrolinx, All4Labels, Magnolia, Westbridge and FactFinder.

Olivier Franscella, Investment Advisor (GENUI AG, Switzerland)

Olivier accompanies the labor team together with Jörg Debatin and Max Odefey and was instrumental in setting up GENUI's Swiss investment activities, for which he is still responsible today.

About labor team

labor team

Approximately 70% of all medical diagnoses in Switzerland are based on a laboratory test result showing the importance of laboratory diagnostics. labor team is the fourth largest medical laboratory in Switzerland and carried out analyses for around 1 million patients in 2021. With a state-of-the-art machine park, a wide range of tests, fast-processing times as well as reliable and precise test results, labor team provides the population with leading diagnostics thus enabling people to lead better lives.
labor team was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Goldach near St. Gallen. The company has an established base of over 3,000 customers, the majority of which are medical practices, selected hospitals, retirement homes and industrial companies. labor team is a "one-stop laboratory" that allows both routine and special analyses to be carried out as well as ongoing research of new processes.

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# 02

Traditions must be preserved
at all cost.

Not at all. We are forward looking and believe the only tradition worthwhile preserving is
the one of change. With digitalisation as one of our long-term investment themes, we also
focus on AI-supported software solutions implementing inclusive language in client communication.

Bernd-Michael Rumpf,
GENUI Entrepreneur
Britta Mühlenberg,
Chief Operating Officer Acrolinx
Patrick Gehlen,
GENUI Investor

This is how we did it at Acrolinx

Acrolinx
Britta Mühlenberg, Chief Operating Officer Acrolinx

"I really value the input and support from our investor GENUI in all things regarding ESG. As we continue to build Acrolinx's Sustainability Agenda, GENUI is a respected and valuable sparring partner. We collaborate closely, share insights, and learn from each other. This is even more productive, since we share the same frame of values regarding sustainability and DEI."

Bernd-Michael Rumpf, GENUI Entrepreneur

As co-founder of Actico GmbH, former CEO of SAP Systems Integration and former member of the extended board of SAP AG, Bernd brings in his experience as a software/IT expert.

Patrick Gehlen, GENUI Investor

Is co-founder of GENUI and together with Max Odefey and Bernd-Michael Rumpf supports the Acrolinx team with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of CLOSED, fashionette, mymuesli, GastroHero and kgs, among others.

Max Odefey, GENUI Investor

Is co-founder of GENUI and together with Patrick Gehlen and Bernd-Michael Rumpf accompanies the Acrolinx team with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of among others Market Logic Software, the Brace Group (former Schendel & Pawlaczyk), mymuesli, Westbridge, All4Labels, Magnolia, labor team and FactFinder.

About Acrolinx

Acrolinx

Gender language, spellings, consistency in corporate documents. Companies have to write, edit, adapt and publish millions of text pages daily. Acrolinx emerged from the Max-Planck-Institute and automates these processes for large companies. The software is unique, runs on an AI and helps companies with a Herculean task. By combining machine learning with precision rules for a better support of specific brand needs, Acrolinx offers software to read and analyse text in order to generate more efficient and consistent content. The software ensures that content conforms to specific brand, audio and technical standards set by the client. Acrolinx also offers software that allows inclusive language to be introduced company-wide directly during writing, boosting clients’ DEI efforts.
Founded in 2002 as a research project at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the market launch took place in 2010. Headquartered in Berlin, Acrolinx has further offices in Waltham (MA, USA) and Portland (OR, USA).

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# 03

Impact is an excellent marketing gimmick.

Not. Like Westbridge who helps decarbonise large real estate portfolios. We focus our investments on industries and companies which play a key role for our environment and society, and its challenges. The energy transition and its main drivers such as B2B energy and material efficiency as well as sustainable energy generation have become indispensable.

Andreas Jacobs,
GENUI Entrepreneur
Yama Mahasher,
Managing Director Westbridge
Christian van der Bosch,
GENUI Investor

This is how we did it at Westbridge

Westbridge
Yama Mahasher, Managing Director Westbridge

"Decarbonising real estate is not something you can do on your own, it is something you need to partner up for – even when being an ESG expert yourself. That is why GENUI, with a view from outside, continuously helps us challenging and optimising our own sustainability ambitions and CO₂ footprint."

Andreas Jacobs, GENUI Entrepreneur

As former CEO of Barry Callebaut and former Vice Chairman of Swiss Adecco, Andreas brings in his experience in executing buy & build opportunities which led to the merger of Argentus and Westbridge as well as the full acquisition of agradblue. He supports management in international company growth as well as improving financial transparency. Andreas is chairman of the advisory board. He is co-founder of GENUI.

Max Odefey, GENUI Investor

Is co-founder of GENUI and together with Christian van der Bosch and Andreas Jacobs supports the Westbridge team with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of among others Market Logic Software, the Brace Group (former Schendel & Pawlaczyk), All4Labels, mymuesli, Acrolinx, labor team, Magnolia and FactFinder.

Christian van der Bosch, GENUI Investor

Together with Max Odefey and Andreas Jacobs, he accompanies the Westbridge team with his experience as an investor in fashionette and the Brace Group (formerly Schendel & Pawlaczyk), among others.

About Westbridge

Westbridge

The real estate sector is responsible for over a third of CO₂ emissions. There is an enormous potential for increasing the efficiency of existing real estate portfolios. Westbridge is the market leader for sustainability management in the real estate and housing industry. The company combines interdisciplinary expertise with consulting as well as implementation know-how and not only supports its customers in the conception, but also in the practical implementation of all efficiency measures. The team keeps an eye on both ecological and economic aspects in order to combine sustainability with better returns for their customers. The group enables its clients to achieve significant cost savings and carbon footprint improvements and has a well-diversified client base of over 250 large property owners, pension funds and wealth managers.
Founded in 2011, following the merger with Argentus in 2022, Westbridge is headquartered in Frankfurt.

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# 04

It took simply
another investment company
with sharper pencils.

Not. We have brought together investors and entrepreneurs, who have built market-leading companies, to be professional partners with other entrepreneurs. We contribute experience and network.

Hartmut Jenner,
GENUI Entrepreneur
Rolf Unterberger,
Managing Director Cherry
Sumeet Gulati,
GENUI Investor

This is how we did it at Cherry

Cherry
Rolf Unterberger, Managing Director Cherry

"The cooperation with GENUI is not only successful and valuable, it is above all a very partnership-based. We say thank you for your growth-oriented support and for preserving and promoting our unique culture."

Hartmut Jenner, GENUI Entrepreneur

Hartmut Jenner has accompanied Cherry as the Chairman of the Entreprenuers’ Board since the carve out from the ZF Friedrichshafen Group. As CEO of the Alfred Kärcher Group for many years, Hartmut has a wealth of entrepreneurial experience in the production of high-quality consumer goods, the development of international sales structures and global brand management.

Oliver Serg, GENUI Investor

Oliver Serg co-founded GENUI and together with Sumeet Gulati and Hartmut Jenner was accompanying the Cherry team with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of Senseca, APELOS Therapie, VALEARA, Mindcurv, fashionette, among others.

Sumeet Gulati, GENUI Investor

He co-founded GENUI and together with Hartmut Jenner and Oliver Serg he accompanied the Cherry team on the Entrepreneurs’ Board with his experience as an investor, which he gained as a member of the advisory boards of All4Labels and CLOSED, among others.

About Cherry

Cherry

Cherry AG, headquartered in Auerbach, in the Upper Palatinate, is a leading global manufacturer of computer input devices, e.g. health card readers and gaming devices, with a focus on Office, Gaming, Industry, Security and switches for mechanical keyboards.
Founded 1953 in the US, Cherry started manufacturing computer keyboards in 1973 and is the oldest manufacturer of computer keyboards. In 1983, Cherry commemorated the development and production of the MX Switch and became the leading brand in quality and design.
In 2020, the GENUI investment in Cherry was partly realised, and in 2021, the remaining shares were placed during the IPO of Cherry AG.

Investments

Investments

Our investments.

Team

Team

What unites us at GENUI is that we believe in Good Entrepreneurship. And, we have the honest claim of treating each other with respect at eye level - within the team and beyond.


Meet the team

Sustainability

Sustainability

It is GENUI’s objective to achieve strong market financial returns by genuinely promoting social and ecological impact objectives. This is the core of what we call 'Good Entrepreneurship'. It is reflected in our culture, business processes and at all stages of the investment cycle.
Please click on the below chart for details.

Please also refer to our Sustainability Policy
and our Annual Sustainability Reports:
2023
2022

At COP28, GENUI was recognised for its sustainable investment approach:
See the full interview about GENUI’s “Good Entrepreneurship” approach.

Principles Strategy &KPIs Responsibility &accountability Reporting &disclosure Philanthropy Sparring partner &advocate
GENUI Company
Selection &diligence Portfoliomanagement Governance &monitoring Futureownership Independentmeasurement Review &improvement
GENUI Portfolio
Principles

Principles

GENUI supports leading sustainability initiatives and principles.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us personally.

Susanne Eck
Team Assistant

GENUI GmbH
Neuer Wall 80
D-20354 Hamburg

+49 (0) 40 3208669-0

Team

Alexander Meier
Investor
Boris Klenk
Investor
Christian van der Bosch
Investor
Max Odefey
Investor
Nico Kollmann
Investor
Nora Schulte
Chief Impact & Client Relations Officer
Oliver Serg
Investor
Olivier Franscella
Investment Advisor (GENUI AG, Switzerland)
Patrick Gehlen
Investor
Sumeet Gulati
Investor
Susanne Eck
Team Assistant
Melanie Buesing
Chief Financial Officer
Lionel Fracheboud
Investment Advisor (GENUI AG, Schweiz)
Sarah Kaiser
Investor
Nadine Patzke
Executive Assistant
Olga Wilhelm
Impact & Client Relations Manager
Lena Belling
Investor
back
Investments

Our investments

  • The real estate sector is responsible for over a third of CO₂ emissions. There is an enormous potential for increasing the efficiency of existing real estate portfolios. Westbridge is the market leader for sustainability management in the real estate and housing industry. The company combines interdisciplinary expertise with consulting as well as implementation know-how and not only supports its customers in the conception, but also in the practical implementation of all efficiency measures. The team keeps an eye on both ecological and economic aspects in order to combine sustainability with better returns for their customers. The group enables its clients to achieve significant cost savings and carbon footprint improvements and has a well-diversified client base of over 250 large property owners, pension funds and wealth managers.
    Founded in 2011, following the merger with Argentus in 2022, Westbridge is headquartered in Frankfurt.

    Website

  • Approximately 70% of all medical diagnoses in Switzerland are based on a laboratory test result showing the importance of laboratory diagnostics. labor team is the fourth largest medical laboratory in Switzerland and carried out analyses for around 1 million patients in 2021. With a state-of-the-art machine park, a wide range of tests, fast-processing times as well as reliable and precise test results, labor team provides the population with leading diagnostics thus enabling people to lead better lives.
    labor team was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Goldach near St. Gallen. The company has an established base of over 3,000 customers, the majority of which are medical practices, selected hospitals, retirement homes and industrial companies. labor team is a "one-stop laboratory" that allows both routine and special analyses to be carried out as well as ongoing research of new processes.

    Website

  • VALEARA (formerly ZNS Bottrop) provides psychiatric and psychotherapeutic day care, coupled with a neurology practice, at the heart of Germany’s Ruhr area. Since its foundation in 1983, VALEARA has continuously increased its patient offering and is now a local leader in its segment. The holistic treatment is enhanced by an interdisciplinary approach and a high intercultural competence.

    Website

  • APELOS Therapie (formerly Physio Holding) pursues a Buy & Build investment strategy in Germany with focus on physiotherapy, out-patient rehabilitation and medical fitness. Over the next years, the company aims to create a group of high quality centers which will continue to operate largely autonomously under their established brands. The group will provide the centers with a platform to exchange experiences and best practices while offering support with, a.o., certifications, staff, invoicing and accounting.

    Website

  • As a specialist in the field of measurement and control technology, Senseca Germany GmbH (formerly GHM Group) is active in the business areas of industrial sensors and electronics, environmental measurement technology, mobile measurement devices, and data acquisition and transmission. The company manufactures and sells individual components as well as entire systems to customers in the fields of mechanical and plant engineering, transport technology, environmental technology, meteorology, water treatment and other industries. Today's Senseca Germany GmbH is based on five former family-owned companies that were merged in 2009 and in 2015 and 2017, respectively, as part of a buy & build concept.

    Website

  • Gender language, spellings, consistency in corporate documents. Companies have to write, edit, adapt and publish millions of text pages daily. Acrolinx emerged from the Max-Planck-Institute and automates these processes for large companies. The software is unique, runs on an AI and helps companies with a Herculean task. By combining machine learning with precision rules for a better support of specific brand needs, Acrolinx offers software to read and analyse text in order to generate more efficient and consistent content. The software ensures that content conforms to specific brand, audio and technical standards set by the client. Acrolinx also offers software that allows inclusive language to be introduced company-wide directly during writing, boosting clients’ DEI efforts.
    Founded in 2002 as a research project at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the market launch took place in 2010. Headquartered in Berlin, Acrolinx has further offices in Waltham (MA, USA) and Portland (OR, USA).

    Website

  • KGS Software GmbH, headquartered in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main, has been a digital archiving specialist for top global companies for over 20 years. Data and documents from SAP and other leading applications are migrated and archived using efficient, streamlined software. Under the brand “tia®” – the intelligent archive - the archiving provider has since 2020 united all kgs product modules into a shared vision of an intelligent document archive.

    Website

  • Magnolia was founded in 1997 by two software entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, today, Magnolia has a global reach, with more than 10 regional offices serving customers in over 100 countries. Through its network of expert implementation partners, Magnolia helps enterprises master their DX initiatives with a platform that's engineered for the challenges and opportunities of going digital.

    Website

  • FactFinder is the leading European technology for search, merchandising and personalisation in B2C- and B2B-eCommerce. FactFinder offers artificial intelligence-powered search and recommendation software solutions to eCommerce customers to enhance the end-user experience on their platforms. The company was founded 1981 and today has five office locations in Germany, France, UK and Sweden.

    Website

  • Everyone who doesn't digitise now, will be kicked out of the market – that's what everyone hears everywhere. Easily said – how to know how to do so? Helping the many companies to manage the digital transformation is a seemingly endless field. Mindcurv brings light into dark corners for its customers and takes them by the hand on their journey into "uncharted territory". A great success story.
    Since 2011, Mindcurv with headquarters in Essen helps designing and implementing scalable, digital platforms and cloud infrastructures.

    Website

  • Cherry AG, headquartered in Auerbach, in the Upper Palatinate, is a leading global manufacturer of computer input devices, e.g. health card readers and gaming devices, with a focus on Office, Gaming, Industry, Security and switches for mechanical keyboards.
    Founded 1953 in the US, Cherry started manufacturing computer keyboards in 1973 and is the oldest manufacturer of computer keyboards. In 1983, Cherry commemorated the development and production of the MX Switch and became the leading brand in quality and design.
    In 2020, the GENUI investment in Cherry was partly realised, and in 2021, the remaining shares were placed during the IPO of Cherry AG.

    Website

  • All4Labels, headquartered in Hamburg, is one of the world’s leading label companies and a pioneer in sustainable and digital packaging solutions with a specialisation on the home and personal care as well as food & beverage markets. All4Labels is recognised by its customers as a preferred provider of pressure sensitive, shrink sleeve and security labels as well as flexible solutions. All4Labels has been a long-standing partner for major local and international companies in Europe, Latin America, Africa and China.
    In 2019, the GENUI investment in All4Labels was realised.

    Website

  • Founded in 1991 with headquarters in Münster, the BRACE Group (formerly Schendel & Pawlaczyk) is one of the leading providers of services in the fields of trade fair construction, design and live communication in the German-speaking region. The BRACE Group operates as full-service one-stop-shop trade fair booths and project specialist for mid cap customers.

    Website

  • Market Logic develops and distributes marketing information systems as a software-as-a-service solution that help branded companies to support innovation and marketing processes with the right information at the right time. Customers include leading global consumer companies, as well as customers in the healthcare, retail, high-tech, finance, media & entertainment and telecommunications sectors. Market Logic was founded 2006 with headquarters in Berlin and an office in Chicago.

    Website

  • Berge & Meer was founded in 1971 in Rengsdorf and is now Germany's No. 1 direct provider of travel services. As a specialist tour operator, Berge & Meer offers cruise trips and tour packages across a wide range of travel options in over 80 countries.

    Website

  • Allergies, food intolerances, special tastes – food must be able to address all of these today. Healthy food is the future. 566 trillion different ways to put together your muesli. A unique food company with a brand awareness of more than 90%. This is mymuesli, with which the Germans and Swiss start their day. mymuesli operated "D2C" in the food sector when hardly anyone knew what it was and has become the largest premium muesli provider in Germany.
    Founded 2007 with headquarters in Passau and an office in Berlin, mymuesli is producer and market leader for premium mass-customised muesli present online, in supermarkets and own shops. Active in 6 European countries, mymuesli offers individualised muesli variations from 80+ organic ingredients as well as pre-mixed mueslis, granolas, porridge, tea and milk alternatives. With mymission, mymuesli places great emphasis on sustainability, including its supply chain for organic ingredients, CO₂ footprint measurement and zero food waste projects.

    Website

  • Data based decisions are the future. fashionette is one of the most successful data driven companies in the consumer goods sector. As a pure online retailer of luxury and premium handbags and accessories, the company has managed to grow profitably from sales of EUR 36m to over EUR 150m. An absolute success story.
    In 2020, the GENUI investment in fashionette AG has been partially realised with a listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and fully realised in 2022.

    Website

  • CLOSED did start as a denim brand in 1978 and has stood for unique designs, uncompromising quality and handmade jeans in Italy. Denim is a huge part of the CLOSED DNA. French imagination. Italian craftsmanship. German tradition. These influences are carried within the products. The family-owned company with headquarters in Hamburg operates shops and showrooms all over Germany, Europe and the USA. CLOSED has been committed to sustainability since its beginnings and manufactures more than 80 percent of its collection with European producers.
    In 2019, the GENUI investment in CLOSED was realised.

    Website

  • GastroHero was founded 2013 in Dortmund and is Europe´s large online retailer for catering supplies with online shops in 5 European countries. The product range extends from small items such as pots and pans to large appliances such as refrigerators and pizza ovens. In addition to online trading, GastroHero offers additional services such as the complete planning of canteen kitchens at the customer's site or technical support and installation of equipment via an international network of technicians.

    Website
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GENUI Sustainable Investing Framework

GENUI Sustainable Investing Framework

GENUI company level

1. Principles

GENUI is a Certified B Corporation. As a B Corp, GENUI is part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

As a signatory, GENUI is committed to the Principles of Responsible Investment (UN PRI) developed by the United Nations and seeks to ensure that its investment approach and disclosure are aligned with them.

GENUI is a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM) developed by the World Bank's IFC and pursues alignment of its investment processes with the principles.

GENUI joined the UN Global Compact (UN GC), a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals.

GENUI is a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

GENUI is signatory to the ILPA Diversity in Action bringing together limited partners and general partners who share a commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the private equity industry.

GENUI is signatory to the Charta der Vielfalt that promotes the recognition, appreciation and integration of diversity in business culture.

2. Strategy & KPIs

As part of the investment strategy GENUI primarily focuses on companies that contribute to advancing what we regard as three of our society‘s most central tasks: good health, digitalisation and environmental transformation.

GENUI's strategic sustainability objective is to support positive and measurable social or environmental effects. GENUI primarily invests in business models which inherently have a positive social or environmental impact, pursuing alignment of its investments with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focusing on:

Both at GENUI management company level and at the portfolio companies, GENUI encourages initiatives for achieving tangible environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes. Starting with the GENUI III fund generation, impact is tracked along company-specific impact KPIs defined pre-investment and, since establishment of the GENUI II fund generation, ESG initiatives are consistently tracked across portfolio companies based on the standard GENUI ESG KPI set (see section portfolio management). These include achieving carbon footprint measurement, reduction and compensation of the remaining footprint and realising equal pay during our ownership focusing on the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

3. Responsibility & accountability

Responsibility for sustainability lies with a GENUI founding partner and managing director and our Chief Impact & Client Relations Officer, reflecting its strategic importance for GENUI. The dedicated GENUI impact and ESG team advises portfolio companies on impact and ESG-related matters.

All staff regularly receive training on impact and ESG procedures, policies and initiatives. GENUI conducts anonymised 360° feedback, which forms the basis for performance and compensation reviews. This also takes into account an individual's contribution to impact, ESG value creation and management of ESG risks.

4. Reporting & disclosure

GENUI seeks to apply a comparable level of scrutiny and rigour to the measurement and reporting of impact and ESG as it does for financial performance. GENUI publishes its sustainability reports on an annual basis including information on sustainability initiatives on management company level and portfolio company level.

In alignment with the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), sustainability risk management is embedded in the way GENUI seeks to originate investments and make investment decisions and in ongoing portfolio management activities.

GENUI is an official and strategic supporter of the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which was established to promote more informed investment decisions by incorporating the risks and opportunities that climate change poses for business.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved GENUI’s near-term science-based emissions reduction target. GENUI has also committed to set long-term emissions reduction targets with the SBTi in line with reaching net-zero by 2050.

In 2021, GENUI joined the ESG Data Convergence Initiative (EDCI) of the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), which seeks to standardise ESG metrics and provides a mechanism for comparative reporting.

5. Stewardship, sparring partner & advocate

GENUI has established the LP Sustainability Council, an advisory body comprising sustainability representatives of leading investment firms that comes together on a semi-annual basis to discuss current regulatory and market developments, impact measurement, ESG reporting, initiatives and outcomes as well as industry best practice.

GENUI is a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing around the world.

GENUI is a member of the Bundesinitiative Impact Investing (Federal Impact Investing Initiative) in Germany, with the aim of contributing to establishing a sustainable investing eco-system and promoting implementation of responsible investing policies.

GENUI is part of the Invest Europe Impact Investing Working Group that aims to advise and support Invest Europe’s work on impact investing and the Invest Europe ESG Working Group that aims to promote responsible investment practices and the consideration of ESG issues throughout the broader private equity community.

6. Philanthropy

GENUI initiated the Entrepreneurs' Social Return Partnership (Unternehmer Stiftung für Chancengerechtigkeit (USC) gGmbH), which is financially backed by GENUI Entrepreneurs and structured as an investor in GENUI and other leading investment firms. At the USC, GENUI brought together an experienced management team, exceptional entrepreneurs and an innovative investment model. The entire proceeds are used to improve the opportunities of children and young people in the areas of education, health and societal inclusion, contributing to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG):

For several years now, GENUI has also been a financial supporter of Allerleirauh e.V., a Hamburg-based organisation of women working as the first point of contact for girls and young women in acute crisis situations who have experienced sexual harassment or assault within their families, schools or workplaces.

GENUI portfolio level

1. Selection & diligence

When selecting and carrying out due diligence on potential investments, GENUI takes the following into account:

  • Exclusion criteria (negative screening): GENUI will not invest in companies that derive a significant percentage of their revenue from the arms industry and arms trading; the gambling industry; the tobacco industry; human cloning/genetic engineering; or from the fossil gas and nuclear energy sectors; whose business activity consists of narcotics, alcohol or adult entertainment; or suspected of unethical or illegal business practices, including modern slavery, child labour or animal torture.
  • Impact assessment: Starting with the GENUI III fund generation, assessment and scoring of the positive impact of the investments’ business model along the Impact Frontiers framework / IMP’s five dimensions of impact incl. definition of KPI along the theory of change and alignment with selected SDG, conducted by an independent consulting firm.
  • ESG due diligence: Entry due diligence conducted by a specialist consulting firm assessing ESG risks and opportunities, and, if applicable, principle adverse indicators (PAI) incl. climate, social and employee matters taking into account international requirements and guidelines.

    • Topics identified by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board as particularly material with regard to a specific industry are typically prioritised in the sustainability assessment of potential investments.

  • Good Governance Assessment: Starting with the GENUI III fund generation, good governance assessment with respect to sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance conducted by independent advisory firms (ESG, legal and tax due diligence).
  • Climate risk analysis: High-level climate-related risk scenario analysis in accordance with the TCFD guidelines conducted by an independent consulting firm.
  • Value creation: Evaluation of impact and ESG opportunities incl. advice on scaling and improvement potential considering the industry, strategy and processes of the company. Advising management on development of mitigation plan for any material issues or negative externalities identified during due diligence.
  • Management commitment: Strategic objectives on measurement, monitoring, and reporting of ESG KPIs are embedded in the shareholder agreement and rules of procedures. Starting with the GENUI III fund generation, additional reporting of impact KPI, commitment to climate action and target setting via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as well as equal pay, DEI principles and good governance.

GENUI incorporates impact and ESG due diligence findings in all relevant investment process documentation in the same manner as for other key due diligence (e.g. commercial, accounting and legal) and in discussion in the investment committee as part of its responsibility for the GENUI’s investment strategy. It prioritises the impact assessment of the business model with respect to climate-related and social matters in areas such as strategic asset allocation, investment strategy and risk management with a view to realising GENUI's objective to achieve strong market financial returns by genuinely promoting social and ecological impact objectives.

2. Portfolio management

GENUI encourages initiatives for achieving positive impact and tangible ESG outcomes at its portfolio companies. GENUI offers advice, network and a communication platform to management teams on their journey to make a difference from an impact perspective and improve ESG performance. Initiatives are tracked based on company-specific impact KPI’s and the GENUI ESG Reporting KPI Set (where desired by a portfolio company’s management, data collection is facilitated via an external ESG software provider securing data quality and analysis), focusing primarily on the following topics (non-exclusive list):

Environmental

  • GHG emissions and carbon footprint measurement, reduction and compensation
  • Energy consumption/Renewable energy use
  • Waste management and biodiversity

Social

  • Equal pay
  • Diversity in management board/at C-level
  • Employee health
  • Skill development

Governance

  • Employee relations, engagement & satisfaction
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Data protection and IT & cyber security
  • Compliance, incl. non-discrimination, human rights, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, anti-trust, conflict of interest policies, whistleblowing procedures
  • Business partner compliance

3. Governance & monitoring

In addition, GENUI’s good governance policy assesses the good governance practices of GENUI's portfolio companies prior to making an investment (starting with GENUI III fund generation) and periodically thereafter, including (but not limited to) with respect to sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance ("Good Governance Standards"), in accordance with established industry-wide standards.

At advisory board level, progress, achievements and objectives are reviewed at least annually and improvement actions are defined by management for the subsequent period, including those required to address potential gaps in ESG systems, processes and standards (e.g. based on pre-investment research, due diligence and materiality findings, performance monitoring findings).

To ensure that ESG risks and compliance can be effectively monitored, management typically implements robust disclosure channels and monitoring frameworks at the portfolio companies, including:

  • ESG responsible persons at C-level and other officers to monitor ongoing compliance and reporting according to ESG-related guidelines
  • Robust compliance mechanisms and policies (e.g. code of conduct, IT & cyber security, whistleblower and grievance procedures)
  • ESG incident reporting process
  • Starting with the GENUI III fund generation, management compensation is linked to additional impact KPI, commitment to climate action and target setting via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as well as equal pay, DEI principles and good governance.

In addition, GENUI has established the GENUI Portfolio ESG Roundtable, a forum for exchange comprising the sustainability representatives of our portfolio firms that comes together on an annual basis to discuss ESG initiatives and share best practice on measurements, reporting and stakeholder communication.

4. Future ownership

When selecting and carrying out due diligence on potential divestments, GENUI takes the following into account:

  • ESG due diligence: Vendor due diligence / vendor fact book conducted by a specialist consulting firm assessing ESG risks and opportunities taking into account international requirements and guidelines.
  • Future investor criteria: The impact achieved (e.g. on positive climate action, diversity, gender equality and social impact) at a portfolio company during GENUI's ownership should be built upon during new ownership. Accordingly, GENUI considers whether a potential future investor is interested in continuing a portfolio company's achievements, taking into account factors such as:
    • Potential concerns over the business integrity of the buyer
    • Buyer's reputation and track record with respect to impact and ESG matters
    • Whether the investor is committed to principles of responsible investing
    • Investor's plans for the portfolio company with regard to ESG factors and achieved impact

5. Independent measurement

    Impact measurement

    Starting with GENUI III fund generation, when assessing new investments, a scoring of the positive impact of the investments’ business model along the Impact Frontiers framework / Impact Management Project's (IMP) five dimensions of impact is conducted by an independent specialist consulting firm and reviewed on an annual basis.
    Furthermore, for each investment, a definition of core company-specific impact KPIs along the theory of change and alignment with selected SDG is determined.

    Post investment, an ongoing analysis is conducted by an independent consultancy to estimate the Net Value to Society (NVS) created during GENUI ownership, where appropriate.

    The quantitative measurement of the investments' positive impact is conducted based on available evidence from third-party sources and published academic research which translates the material social or environmental outcomes into economic terms.
    Both the quantitative and qualitative measurement and assessment of selected investments' social impact are carried out by an independent specialist advisory firm, that also provides an evaluation of the limitations of the applied methodologies.

    Furthermore, GENUI has engaged an external assurance and verification company, to provide independent assurance of the quantitative impact measurement as part of the verification of GENUI's alignment with the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM) ("the Impact Principles").

    ESG measurement

    The carbon footprint of GENUI and its investments is determined in alignment with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.

    The collection of the ESG KPIs is conducted via a dedicated ESG software provider streamlining the collection, monitoring and reporting (incl. audit trail) of KPIs and initiatives at GENUI and those portfolio companies that elect to use the software. Furthermore, the external service provider conducts the analysis of the carbon footprint via an audited Scope 1-3 emissions methodology in full compliance with the GHG Protocol.

    6. Review & improvement

    GENUI regularly reviews its Sustainability Policy, the Good Governance Policy, the Sustainable Investing Framework and ESG Reporting KPI Set to improve investment decisions as well as processes and procedures, and to identify new impact and ESG initiatives.




    Note: Implementation with start of the GENUI II fund generation.
    Publication date: 31 December 2019. Latest Update: 1 January 2024.

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Imprint

Imprint

GENUI GmbH
Neuer Wall 80
D-20354 Hamburg

Tel: + 49 (0) 40 320 8669 0
Fax: + 49 (0) 40 320 8669 80

E-Mail: info@genui.de

Managing Directors: Patrick Gehlen, Dr. Sumeet Gulati,
Dr. Max Odefey, Dr. Oliver Serg, Melanie Büsing
Commercial Register Hamburg, HRB 131130

VAT No.: DE296137172

 

GENUI AG
Investment Advisor
Bahnhofstrasse 61
CH-8001 Zürich

Tel: + 41 (0) 44 797 4032

Investment Advisor: Olivier Franscella

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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Scope of application

GENUI GmbH (herewith “GENUI” or “we”) is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. With this privacy policy we would like to inform you in detail about how we use your personal data.
This privacy policy applies to the use of your personal data when you visit our websites available at www.genui.de and when you contact us by e-mail or telephone. We have prepared a separate privacy policy for our investors, which we will be happy to forward to you at any time upon request if this has not already been done.

Who is responsible and to whom can I reach out?

GENUI GmbH, Neuer Wall 80, 20354 Hamburg, is responsible for the processing of personal data described in this privacy policy.
You can contact the following office for all inquiries related to data protection:

GENUI GmbH
Neuer Wall 80
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 40 320 08669 0
Fax +49 (0) 40 320 8669 80
E-mail info(at)genui.de

You can contact our external data protection officer at:

VIVACIS Consulting GmbH
Jochen Geck
Datenschutzbeauftragter
Horexstraße 1
Alter Güterbahnhof
61352 Bad Homburg
Deutschland

E-Mail: jochen.geck(at)vivacis.de

Which data do we process from you?

We collect and process various personal data from you depending on the specific processing situation. Below you will find a list of the data related to the respective processing situations.

What data do we process when you visit our websites?

You can visit our websites without disclosing your identity. If you use the services provided by GENUI on the websites without registering, we will process, inter alia, the following data from you:

  • Data about the usage of the provided websites (e.g., used browser, used operating system, referrer URL, time of server request, requested contents, duration of usage);
  • IP address; and
  • Other technical data equivalent to those above.

Which data do we process when you contact us?

Depending on your request, you can contact us via our websites or outside the Internet, either by telephone or in writing. We only store and process your e-mail address, telephone number, postal address, and other information that you have provided to us.

From whom do we collect your personal data?

Personal data is only collected directly from you, e.g., by visiting our websites or using the services offered, such as the possibility of contacting us by e-mail.

For what purposes and on what legal basis do we process your data?

We process your personal data exclusively in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz) (“BDSG”). In certain situations, we also process your personal data to fulfill other legal obligations or based on your explicit consent.

For the performance of a contract

We process your personal data to fulfill contractual or quasi-contractual obligations, to enter into an agreement, e.g. to provide services in our role as investor, to support current customers, or to answer questions.

To be in compliance with legal obligations

To the extent that we are subject to legal obligations, for the compliance of which the processing of your personal data is necessary, we process your personal data on the basis of these legal obligations.

Based on our legitimate interests

We also process your personal data to protect our legitimate interests, except where your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms, which require the protection of your personal data prevail.

Subject to a decision to be made in individual cases, we usually assume that our legitimate interests prevail within the context of the following processing situations, which are not listed exhaustively:

  • Improving our offers and services;
  • Analysis of the usage of our websites;
  • Ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of our IT systems;
  • Cooperation with public authorities.

Based on your consent

If you have given us separate consent to process your personal data, we will process your personal data within and on the basis of this consent. Consents may, for example, relate to the transfer of data to associated companies, the evaluation of your data for targeted advertising activities or sending of newsletters.

Consent is always freely given. Refusing or revoking your consent will not have any negative consequences for you.

To whom do we transfer your data?

We transfer your personal data to the extent necessary for the formation, execution or termination of an agreement or quasi-contractual legal relationship, in principle, only to companies affiliated with us.

Transfer to business partners and external consultants

If necessary, we transfer your personal data to our business partners for the execution of an existing contract or if we believe, based on our current business relationship, that the transfer of your personal data is in your interest, for example, to introduce business contacts of interest. Personal Data is regularly transferred to our external consultants in connection with fund-raising, investments, or the establishment and management of funds within the framework of existing contractual relationships.

Transfer to processors

For the processing of your data we also use external service providers to whom we transfer your personal data, who only process the data on our behalf and only in a contractually agreed upon manner (“Processers”). Processors are also contractually obliged, for example, to either delete or return the data upon termination of the engagement.

Transfer based on legal obligations or for the protection of legitimate interests

To the extent we are obliged to do so by law, court order, or by an enforceable official order, we will transfer your personal data to bodies entitled to receive information.

Other transfers

If you have given us a separate consent form to use and transfer your personal data, your personal data may be passed on to the recipients named therein. As part of the provision of third-party services on our websites, personal data may be passed on to third parties. Please refer to section 12 for more detailed information. In addition, no personal data will be transferred on to third parties unless, in individual cases, there is a specific legal justification for the transfer, and your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms do not prevail.

Do we transfer your data to third countries?

For some types of processing, we may transfer your personal data to countries outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, to so-called third countries. In the course of a transfer of personal data to a third country, we will regularly provide appropriate guarantees, for example, by concluding the Standard Contractual Clauses of the European Commission to ensure that the transfer of data takes place with the same level of data protection that corresponds to the GDPR.

How long do we store your personal data?

We process and store your personal data only as long as necessary for our processing purposes.

Upon request, we will regularly delete the data collected and stored for our websites’ usage at any time. We will do this ourselves and within a few days, unless we have a particular interest in continuing storage for individual cases, e.g., cyberattacks.

Regarding your contact requests, we only store your data for the time period necessary to answer your request.

Insofar as a longer retention period is required by statutory retention and documentation obligations or to protect our legitimate interests, e.g., in the event of possible legal disputes, your personal data will be stored and processed even after the above-mentioned period has expired. With complete execution of a contract or quasi-contractual relationship, we will, as far as possible, immediately restrict your personal data from further processing.

A final deletion takes place after the legal retention and documentation obligation periods expire, which are between two and ten years and result, inter alia, from the Fiscal Code of Germany (Abgabenordnung) or German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch).

Your rights

In the following, you will find a summary of your rights regarding the processing of your personal data:

Rights to access, delete, correct, restrict processing, and portability of your data

According to Article 15 GDPR, you have the right to obtain confirmation from us as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed by us. Where that is the case, you have a right to access the personal data and obtain further information.

According to Article 16 GDPR, you may have the right to obtain the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you without undue delay.

According to Article 17 GDPR, you may have the right to obtain erasure of personal data concerning you if (i) it is no longer necessary in relation to the purpose for which it is collected, (ii) you have withdrawn your consent on which the processing is based, (iii) you have objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21 (1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21 (2) GDPR, (iv) your personal data has been unlawfully processed; (v) the personal data has to be erased for compliance with a legal obligation to which GENUI is subject , or (vi) the personal data has been collected in relation to the offer of information society services pursuant to Article 8 (1) GDPR.

According to Article 18 GDPR, you may have the right to obtain the restriction of processing. Such right shall exist if (i) you contested the accuracy of the personal data, (ii) the processing is unlawful and you oppose the erasure of the personal data and request the restriction of its use instead, (iii) the personal data is no longer needed for the purposes of the processing, but it is required by you for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or (iv) you have objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR pending the verification of whether our grounds legitimately override yours.

According to Article 19 GDPR, you have the right to obtain information about the recipients of data to whom the rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing has been communicated.

According to Article 20 GDPR, you have the right to obtain personal data concerning you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and to transmit the data to another controller.

If the processing or transfer of your personal data is based on a consent given by you, you can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future.

You have the right to lodge a complaint against the processing of your data or any decision of GENUI in relation to one of your rights you have exercised, to the Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (Der Hamburgische Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit), Kurt-Schumacher-Allee 4, 20097 Hamburg.

Contact

To exercise your rights under section 9.1, you can contact us without any formality by post, fax or e-mail at the points of contact listed in section 2.

RIGHT TO OBJECT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 21 DSGVO

OBJECTION ON GROUNDS OF YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION

ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 21 (1) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, AT ANY TIME, TO PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU WHICH IS BASED ON OUR LEGITIMATE INTERESTS, INCLUDING PROFILING (E.G., CREDIT RATING). WE SHALL NO LONGER PROCESS THE PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE THE INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS OF YOU, OR FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE, OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS.

OBJECTION AGAINST DIRECT MARKETING

ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 21 (2) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR PURPOSES OF DIRECT MARKETING, WHICH INCLUDES PROFILING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE PROCESSED FOR SUCH PURPOSES.

KONTAKTMÖGLICHKEIT

YOU CAN SEND YOUR OBJECTION INFORMALLY BY POST, FAX OR E-MAIL ADDRESSED TO:

GENUI GMBH
NEUER WALL 80
20354 HAMBURG
DEUTSCHLAND

TEL. +49 (0) 40 320 8669 0
FAX +49 (0) 40 320 8669 80
E-MAIL INFO(at)GENUI.DE

Is there any obligation on your side to provide personal data?

There is neither a contractual nor a legal obligation to provide us with your personal data for the use of our websites. However, if you wish to contact us, certain information may be required to enable us to process your request.

Is the processing based on automated decision-making or profiling?

You have a right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, if the decision is not necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract, is not required by mandatory law, or is not based on your explicit consent.

GENUI does not use automated decision-making procedures, including profiling, unless we have explicitly informed you of them.

What kind of cookies and tracking technology do we use?

For the provision, maintenance, and analysis of our websites and their usage, we use various software tools from third parties and ourselves, which are regularly based on the use of cookies, Flash cookies (also called Flash Local Shared Objects), web beacons or similar technologies (collectively as “Tracking Technologies”). Tracking Technologies can help us understand how you use our services (e.g., the pages you display or the links you click and other actions you perform with the services), give us information about your browser and online usage patterns (e.g., IP address, log data, browser type, browser language, referring/exiting pages and URLs, pages viewed, whether you have opened an e-mail, clicked links, etc.) as well as information about the devices with which you access our services. Tracking Technologies allow us to link the devices you use to access our services so that we can identify and contact you on the various devices you use.

You can limit the use of Tracking Technologies by changing the settings of your browser. You can determine what access you grant us and whether and for how long cookies can be stored on your device. You can also delete cookies that have already been stored at any time. Please note that the functionality of our websites may be affected after deactivating all cookies. Similar functions (such as Flash cookies), which are used by so-called browser add-ons, can be switched off or deleted by changing the settings of the browser add-on or via the website of the browser add-on provider.

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small file that is transferred during the use of a website from the host server of the website and stored on the user’s device (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, other Internet-enabled devices) by the browser used. Cookies are used to store information about the user and to retrieve it when the website is called up again.

What are cookies used for?

Cookies help us understand the use of our websites, analyze trends, administer the websites, track a user’s steps on our websites, collect demographic information about our user base as a whole, allow you to navigate efficiently between the pages, remember your preferences and settings on our websites, and generally improve your browsing experience. We process the data collected using Tracking Technologies to (i) remember information so that you do not have to re-enter them during your visit or a new visit, (ii) recognize you across multiple devices, (iii) control the functionality and performance of our websites, (iv) collect aggregated metrics regarding the total number of visitors, total traffic, usage and demographic patterns on our websites, (v) diagnose and resolve technical issues, and (vi) otherwise plan and improve our website.

What types of cookies are used on our websites?

The cookies used on our website can usually be categorized as follows: mandatory cookies, analytical cookies, and function-related cookies.

Mandatory cookies

These cookies are essential for the functioning of our websites and enable you to move around our websites and to use their functions. Without these cookies, certain services that are required for the full functioning of our websites cannot be provided.

Analytical cookies

With the help of these cookies, we collect information about how our users use our websites, e.g., which pages are accessed and read most frequently, or how users move from one link to the next. All information collected by this type of cookie does not relate to a single user but is aggregated and processed with the information of other users. Cookies provide us with analytical data on how our websites work and how we can improve them.

Function-related cookies

These cookies allow us to save a specific selection you have made and to adapt our website in such a way that it offers you extended functions and content. These cookies can be used, for example, to save your language selection or country selection.

How long are cookies stored on my device?

The retention period depends essentially on whether the cookie is “persistent” or “session-based.” Session-based cookies are deleted after you leave the websites that set the cookie. Persistent cookies remain on your device even after you have finished browsing until they are deleted or until they have expired.

Technical security measures

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential information that you send to us as the website provider, we use SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

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