Berninghausen & Friends

Berninghausen Friends operates as a Single Family Office, dedicated to managing the diverse financial interests of Carl Berninghausen and his family. The firm's investment strategy is primarily centered on the wood industry and renewable energy sectors, leveraging key competencies in these areas.

Berninghausen Friends employs a range of investment vehicles across various asset classes. These include control stake investments, active company building initiatives, minority stake investments, and allocations to real estate, agriculture, and forestry. The portfolio also encompasses liquid assets and supports a family-backed charity foundation.

A notable holding includes Bremer Holzwerke, an industrial wood company with a planer mill and surface treatment plant located in Bremen's city harbor. This entity, rooted in a family business established in 1889, underwent a successful turnaround and restructuring through a Management Buy-In. The family office also manages a 150-acre family estate, comprising forest and farmland, with an emphasis on self-sufficiency and biosphere protection.

A forward-looking area of interest is the decarbonisation of steel making, particularly in the context of Ukraine's reconstruction. This involves exploring opportunities related to the conversion of conventional steel mills to arc furnace technology and the development of new supply chains for direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI). Additionally, the office oversees assets such as a 75,000 square meter industrial estate with docks, production, and storage facilities under long-term lease agreements.

The overarching objective is the prudent management and growth of the family's assets, guided by their specific investment criteria and philanthropic goals.

Keywords: Family Office, Wood Industry, Renewable Energy, Private Equity, Real Estate Investment, Agriculture, Forestry Management, Decarbonisation, Steel Industry, Asset Management