The History of the Hagenmeyer Family Office

The Hagenmeyer family office, known as THI Investments, was established in 2015 following decades of business success in the automotive industry. Its origins, however, trace back to 1935, when Hermann Hagenmeyer acquired Pfeiffer-Getriebewerke, a small engineering workshop in southern Germany. Over the decades, the company—later renamed Getrag—grew into a global leader in transmission manufacturing. THI Investments if part of our list of the top family offices in Germany and our European family office ranking.

Wealth based on the family firm Getrag

In 1935, at the age of 21, Hermann Hagenmeyer purchased Pfeiffer-Getriebewerke despite skepticism from his brewing industry family. Renaming the company to Getrag, he focused on manufacturing motorcycle transmissions. By 1939, the company was supplying renowned brands such as Ardie-Nürnberg, NSU, Triumph, Standard, Viktoria, and Zündapp. Annual turnover had grown to 2.1 million Reichsmarks.

Following World War II, Getrag diversified into vehicle transmissions while continuing to produce motorcycle components. By 1955, turnover had reached 14.7 million Deutschmarks, and the company employed 1,013 people. During the postwar period, Getrag attracted prestigious customers, including Porsche and BMW. In 1966, an additional production hall was built at the original plant, and turnover climbed to 50.2 million Deutschmarks with a workforce of 1,252. Further expansion followed in 1969 with the opening of a new facility in Ludwigsburg.

The 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s marked significant growth as Getrag capitalized on the global expansion of the automotive industry. By the early 2000s, the company had become the world’s largest independent producer of manual transmissions. Its portfolio expanded to include innovative products such as fuel-efficient double-clutch automatic transmissions, hybrid systems, and electric drive components, with manufacturing operations on three continents.

Launch as the Hagenmeyer family office

By 2015, Getrag employed 14,000 people worldwide and produced over four million transmissions annually. The business was thriving in Europe, North America, and Asia. In January 2015, the Hagenmeyer family established THI Investments as their dedicated investment office. This marked a strategic shift from industrial operations to managing and growing the family’s wealth. Later that year, in December 2015, Getrag was sold to Magna International, a global automotive supplier. This divestment allowed the family to focus fully on their new investment endeavors through THI Investments.

Picture source: Jan Kopfiva

Last Updated on November 15, 2024