METRO GROUP invests in High-Tech Gruenderfonds II – Fonds II passes EUR 300 million mark

The international retail and wholesale concern METRO GROUP has confirmed its participation in High-Tech Gruenderfonds II. This investment brings to an end the second close of this fund which now has 17 private investors and a total managed fund volume of EUR 301,5 million.

The METRO GROUP, a diversified and highly-successful international business enterprise, completes the list of investors in Fonds II from the worlds of commerce and industry and sends a clear signal to the German start-up scene. HTGF II now has at its disposal a total fund volume of EUR 301,5, of which EUR 41,5 million was raised from private investors. This public-private partnership between the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group and 17 firms from various branches of the economy provides newly-founded high-tech companies with venture capital of up to EUR 500,000 in the form of seed financing. These start-ups can seek further investments of up to EUR 1,5 million each from the fund at later stages.

“In the METRO GROUP, we are pleased to have found another strong partner with a high international profile,” states Dr. Alex v. Frankenburg, Managing Director of High-Tech Gruenderfonds. “We are confident that this relationship will facilitate productive cooperation between METRO GROUP and the companies in our portfolio. While those young firms active in the areas of online business and advertising stand to benefit from our partner’s extensive and varied experience in these areas, we see possible synergies for firms working on a number of different technologies from process optimization, Green IT through to the latest sensor technology. All our technology companies will profit from direct access to yet another important investor.”

Christian Baier, Head Corporate M&A, METRO GROUP, confirms: “Innovation is a key contributor to METRO GROUP’s success. By participating in HTGF II we see an opportunity to support the continued development and modernization of commerce while at the same time fostering the development of young high-tech companies.”

METRO GROUP’s operational business includes cash and carry and wholesale warehouse operations along with a diversified retail portfolio that includes electronics and department stores. These business units are each led by high-profile brands such as Metro Cash & Carry, Real, Media-Saturn and Galeria Kaufhof. Through its participation in High-Tech Gruenderfonds II, METRO GROUP offers new start-ups access to international markets.

About High-Tech Gruenderfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2 million per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as seventeen commercial enterprises ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Evonik, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, METRO, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, SAP, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 573,5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million HTGF I, EUR 301,5 million HTGF II).

About METRO GROUP
METRO GROUP is one of the largest and most international retailing companies. In 2012 the Group reached sales of around € 67 billion. The company has a headcount of over 280,000 employees and operates around 2,200 stores in 32 countries. The Group’s performance is based on the strength of its sales divisions which operate independently in their respective market segment: Metro/Makro Cash & Carry – the international leader in self-service wholesale, Real hypermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn – European market leader in consumer electronics retailing, and Galeria Kaufhof department stores. More information at: www.metrogroup.de.

Contact:
High-Tech Gruenderfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Zillikens – Marketing & Communivations Manager
Schlegelstraße 2 – 53113 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 823001-07 – Fax +49 228 823000-50
s.zillikens@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de