Guido Köcher

NRW.Bank (Private Equity) (NRWB PE) is the private equity operating division of the NRW Bank which traces their origins to 2002 when Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale was split up into two entities. From this basis and further to the 2004 Reorganization Act, the current foundations for NRW Bank were established. Headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, NRWB PE specializes in providing capital and business development support for SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia. They manage a number of private equity funds. Through mezzanine capital as a co-investor alongside lead investors, they provide equity limited to minority stakes as a silent partner.

WestLB AG Private Equity Investments (WLB-PEI) is the private equity subsidiary of State-owned Erste Abwicklungsanstalt in Germany. WLB-PEI is based in Düsseldorf and was formerly known as WestLB Equity Investments. WLB-PEI manages private equity funds as well as portfolios of direct participations. The firm's missions include promoting local and regional economic development, leveraging WestLB's regional network. They focus on the Nordrhein-Westfalen area.