- CEO
- Bertram Köhler
- Sector
- Finance
- Industry
- Financial conglomerates
- Address
- Jena Germany
- Business
- Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB) is a publicly traded investment holding company and private equity firm based in Jena, Germany, specializing in direct investments, venture capital, and growth financing within the financial services and digital finance sectors. Tracing its corporate history to 1821 with the establishment of the banking house L.A. Hahn—which operated as Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Bank before repositioning as an independent investment company in 1969—the company supplies equity capital, strategic guidance, and operational support to technology-driven businesses across the German-speaking (DACH) region. DEWB operates primarily through its direct activities and its subsidiary, DEWB Effecten GmbH, focusing on scalable business models in wealth management, financial infrastructure, and capital market services.
The company provides an integrated range of investment, advisory, and corporate growth solutions; venture capital and growth equity for early-stage and established financial technology (FinTech) enterprises; direct minority and majority equity holdings; buy-and-build transaction strategies designed to build synergies across complementary portfolio assets; strategic consulting and active supervisory board governance for portfolio companies; corporate restructuring and capital market positioning advisory; expansion financing; and indirect private equity market access for institutional and retail investors through its publicly listed shares traded on XETRA (Ticker: EFF0) and regional German exchanges. DEWB allocates its capital across key strategic holdings, notably in independent multi-asset management through its cornerstone investment in LAIQON AG, as well as B2B financial and billing technology platforms through its investment in aifinyo AG.
In recent developments, Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG implemented major capital restructuring initiatives and strategic portfolio adjustments. In late 2025, the company executed a formal capital reduction combined with a 10-to-1 share consolidation (reverse stock split) approved by its Annual General Meeting to reorganize its share capital structure. To enhance liquidity and secure long-term financing flexibility, DEWB launched the issuance of a 4.5% convertible bond (2025/2030) with an aggregate principal amount of up to 4.0 million euros. Operationally, the company experienced substantial expansion in its primary holding, LAIQON AG, which scaled its assets under management to approximately 10 billion euros, while DEWB actively assessed strategic portfolio monetization opportunities. In early 2026, the company accounted for valuation adjustments on its minority holding in aifinyo AG within its financial statements. In corporate governance changes, Harald Hetzel was appointed as a new member of the Supervisory Board, effective January 1, 2026.