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How companies can continue to grow successfully in the current environment
Annual M&A and Private Equity Conference at Frankfurt School
How can companies evolve strategically in today’s challenging environment? What role do M&A activities play? And how is the private equity sector responding to market pressures? These questions take centre stage at the M&A and Private Equity Conference, now in its 19th year. On 24 September, executives and professionals from corporates, financial institutions, and advisory firms will gather at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management for a programme that combines high-level keynotes, in-depth expertise, and practical insights.
Keynotes and insights from industry leaders
The conference opens with a keynote by Jürgen Pinker, Head of Private Equity in Germany at Blackstone, who will discuss current market drivers and strategic options in private equity. He will be followed by Dr Maximilian Grub, Partner at CMS, presenting M&A trends with a focus on the European defence and security sectors.
Further highlights include contributions from Felix Schmitz (CEO, Kloeckner Metals Germany), Dirk Zechiel (Founder & CEO, Quantagonia), and Manuel Müller (Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder, Emma Sleep). Each will share how their businesses – spanning industry, tech, and D2C commerce – are navigating disruption, technological change, and geopolitical transformation.
Panels and Lunch Talk
In the panel on the trending “asset-light” sector, Dr Michael Drill (Lincoln International), Daniela Bünger (CONET Technologies), and Dr Phoebe Kebbel (FGS Global) will explore the evolving role of professional services firms in the transaction market. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Dr Christoph Schalast, Academic Director of Frankfurt School’s Master of Mergers & Acquisitions.
A further highlight is the Lunch Talk with Alexander Doll, Chair of the Frankfurt School Board of Trustees, Independent Board Member at Arriva Ltd, Ukrainian Railways and Verve SE, and former CFO for Freight Transport and Logistics at Deutsche Bahn AG. His guest, Max-Arnold Köttgen, Member of the Executive Board at Remondis, will share insights into strategic corporate development within a global family-owned business.
M&A Mastertrack
As the annual gathering of Frankfurt School’s Master of Mergers & Acquisitions programme, the conference brings together students, alumni, and faculty with industry practitioners. During the M&A Mastertrack, five graduates of the Class of 2025 will present outstanding master’s theses that combine academic excellence with strong practical relevance.
Frankfurt Venture Hub 25 and FS Startup Night
For the first time, the conference will be followed by a new event – the Frankfurt Venture Hub 25. Co-organised with KfW Capital as part of Frankfurt School’s membership in the WIN Initiative (Growth and Innovation Capital), this event features panel discussions on venture capital investments by institutional investors and corporate ventures. Speakers include representatives from SAP, Porsche, Henkel, and Nordrheinische Ärzteversorgung. Frankfurt School will also showcase its startup ecosystem, including the Entrepreneurship Centre and Futury, its innovation and sustainability platform.
The day concludes with the FS Startup Night, organised by Frankfurt School Career Services – an evening that blends pitches, ideas, networking, and celebration in a relaxed atmosphere.
With this programme built around the M&A and Private Equity Conference 2025, Frankfurt School once again provides a platform for dialogue between academia and business on the pressing challenges of our time – in an era defined by disruption and transformation.
