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Long-term succession planning solutions for Swiss SMEs.
Majority stakes in established Swiss SMEs. Backed by foundation capital. For healthy companies with revenue from CHF 10 million and 50 employees
Majority stakes in established Swiss SMEs. Backed by foundation capital. For healthy companies with revenue from CHF 10 million and 50 employees
A business succession is a deliberate decision regarding into whose hands a lifetime’s work is placed in, how many jobs will remain in the region, and whether what has defined a company for decades will still be recognizable in the next generation.
F.G. Pfister offers a solution for Swiss entrepreneurs for whom these questions matter just as much in succession planning as a fair sale price. We acquire majority stakes in established Swiss SMEs and hold them for the long term — with independent management, regional or Swiss roots, and a time horizon spanning generations.
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What Makes Us Unique.
Four questions almost always stand at the center of succession discussions: How long will the new ownership remain in place? How independent will the company stay?, What happens to the employees? And for which companies are we the right partner?
Clear Ownership Profile
We are open to profitable Swiss SMEs with a proven business model. We invest in companies where, as a long-term owner, we can assume responsibility and continue to run a healthy business independently.
No pressure to sell
We invest using funds from the F.G. Pfister Foundation. There is no specific time by which we must divest.
Responsibility for Employees
Locations and jobs are part of the rationale behind the acquisition. Employees are not viewed as a cost center, but rather as the foundation that enables a company to continue operating successfully.
Independent Companies
The operating companies retain their management teams, their brands, their corporate culture and identity, and their autonomy in business decision-making. We participate on the board of directors, not in management, thereby ensuring a market-oriented strategy.
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Long-term sustainability can also be measured.
Our approach is not geared toward quick transactions, but rather toward long-term ownership and clear criteria. We invest in Swiss companies with substance.
Focus on Swiss SMEs
Year the oldest portfolio company was founded
in the current portfolio
Goba AG has been bottling mineral water in Appenzell since 1930 and, with Flauder, has created a brand that is known throughout Switzerland. After the company was acquired by F.G. Pfister, it remained an independent entity. That is precisely what our approach is all about: new ownership without losing one’s roots, brand, or corporate culture.
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With F.G. Pfister, we have found the ideal partner. Jobs in the Appenzell region will remain secure. Our brands — including Appenzell Mineral, Flauder, and many others — will continue to grow without losing their identity. That is something we deeply value.
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Gabriela Manser
Verwaltungsratspräsidentin Goba AG
Three companies. Three industries. One approach.
Our portfolio shows that long-term ownership is not dependent on a specific industry. What matters most are the company’s intrinsic value, its regional roots, a proven business model, and the willingness to continue running the company independently.
Goba AG, Appenzell
Mineral spring and manufacturer since 1930. Known for Flauder, Appenzell Mineral, and products from the Goba world. An example of brand, origin, and regional roots.
GROB AG, Nebikon
Gears and drive technology since 1947. A specialized industrial company with state-of-the-art technology and an international client base, headquartered in Wiggertal, Lucerne.
Alder + Eisenhut, Ebnat-Kappel
Gymnastics equipment, sports facilities, and stages since 1891. Swiss-made in the Toggenburg region, with approximately 150 employees and a brand that, throughout its long history, has shaped generations of students and athletes.
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Let's talk about your succession plan before it becomes urgent.
An initial conversation usually lasts half an hour. You describe your situation, we listen, and we’ll give you our honest opinion on whether our approach might be a good fit for you. The conversation is confidential, non-binding, and involves no follow-up costs.
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