Haniel Group

Haniel Group

Haniel Group was founded in 1756. The family’s wealth originated in coal, steel and shipping businesses that supported the Ruhr industrial expansion. Franz Markus Haniel previously chaired the supervisory board and remains an honorary member of the Haniel Foundation. The office allocates across private equity, direct co-investments and fund-of-funds vehicles. Confirmed asset classes include buyouts, growth equity, late-stage venture and venture capital. Positions span ClimateTech, Industrial Tech, Energy Transition & Renewables, Mobility & Transportation and PropTech. Geographic exposure covers Europe, North America, Asia and South America. The firm has executed direct investments alongside external sponsors in business-services platforms. Approximately 700 family shareholders own the group. The firm maintains offices only in Duisburg. Joachim Drees became CEO in October 2024 and Henk Derksen became CFO in October 2023. Adjacent vehicles include the Haniel Stiftung and the Sammlung Haniel art collection. The group also holds real assets such as the Haniel Campus and Eisenheim Workers’ Housing Estate. Ownership remains concentrated among family shareholders rather than external limited partners. This structure supports multi-generational holding periods and direct operating-company oversight without third-party fund timelines.