Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity
Overview
Academic Directors
- Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schwetzler
- Dr. Benjamin Hammer
Research Associates
- Ross Drapalski
- Osei Kwabena Brefo
Research Areas
- Private equity
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Valuation
Supporters
Andersch AG; AssetMetrix; Astorius; CARLSQUARE; Hauck&Aufhäuser; Live & Learn Events by Fachmedien otto schmidt, Nordic Capital; Palero; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
What we do
In recent years, the importance of private equity (PE) as an asset class has rapidly increased and deal activity has surged to record levels. Still it is understudied academically and success factors of PE investments are not yet fully understood. The Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity (CCTPE) is a think tank for private equity buyouts that aims at closing this gap. The purpose of the Center is to foster high quality research output, and provide a platform for renowned scholars and industry professionals at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management – one of the leading business schools in Europe. Over the past years, a team of renowned and experienced scholars has created a competitive database on PE buyouts and received considerable media attention as well as several scientific awards for its research. Several high-profile companies and individuals are partnering with us to further expand our database and research. We gratefully acknowledge support by Andersch AG; AssetMetrix; Astorius; Börsen-Zeitung (WM Gruppe); CARLSQUARE; EY; Hauck&Aufhäuser; Neuberger Berman; Nordic Capital; Palero; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; The Boston Consulting Group and ValueTrust as well as by an HHL alumnus.
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Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schwetzler and Dr. Benjamin Hammer, Academic Directors of the Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity (CCTPE)
Palero Capital Award
The Center for Corporate Transactions & Private Equity (CCTPE) at HHL is a leading think tank for private equity research. It is the mission of the CCTPE to provide reliable research results for everyday decision-making in the private equity industry.
Palero Capital, the exclusive advisor of an independent private equity fund in Luxemburg, was co-founded by HHL alumna Conny Wuppermann and the first supporter of the CCTPE. The call for submissions for the Best Master Thesis in Private Equity honors Palero Capital for its trust in establishing the #1 Think Tank for Private Equity Research at HHL. The award is endowed with EUR 500. Decisions will be made by a review committee including experts from academia and practice.
Winner of the Palero Capital Award - Best HHL Master Thesis in Private Equity
- Jan Hendrik Degner (2020): Turning the football field upside down: Empirical evidence of private equity investors’ abilities to outprice strategic acquirers in M&A transactions
- Christian Schöppel (2021): Die Bewertung von Cashflow-Sonderrechten in VC-Beteiligungsverträgen – Auswirkungen auf die Bilanzbewertung
- Tobias Schmitt (2022): Investment criteria of impact investors. Are there commonalities and a common understanding to define a universal standard?
CCTPE Private Equity Scholarship for Collaborative Research with Fund of Funds (Doctoral Program)
The CCTPE aims at expanding its cooperation with Fund of Funds, which have been an engine for cutting-edge research on private equity in recent years. To achieve this goal and attract suitable candidates for the doctoral program, HHL offers the Private Equity Scholarship for Collaborative Research with Fund of Funds. Successful candidates will receive a 50% waiver for the tuition fees for the doctoral program at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.
Our Alumni – A Growing Network
Dr. Robert Loos
Private Equity Investment Professional at EQT | Alumnus Doctoral Program
As an alumnus of HHL’s Chair of Financial Management, I am proud and happy to see the successful launch of the Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity. After having myself moved from academia back to business as a private equity investment professional, I strongly second CCPTE’s focus on high quality research while maintaining close ties to the practical world of investing and deal making at the same time.
Dr. Lisa Uhlenkamp
Senior Consultant, McKinsey & Company | Alumna Doctoral Program
At the Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity I was working with a group of very bright minds, that were passionately investigating highly relevant topics both to academia and practitioners. That made it very inspiring for me. To see my research topics being highly looked after by practitioners confirmed my choice for the CCTPE.
Dr. Sven Mettner
Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company | Alumnus Doctoral Program
At the CCPTE, I experienced the perfectly suited conditions for qualitative academic and practically relevant research – with access to a strong network of practitioners, a unique PE database and experienced academics. The feedback, we got from renowned conferences and academic journals affirms this.
Dr. Nils Janssen
Senior Consultant, McKinsey & Company | Alumnus Doctoral Program
As a doctoral candidate at the Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity I was able to work on the forefront of academic research on private equity and develop knowledge relevant for both academia and practice.
Dr. Nils Härtel
Consultant, Boston Consulting Group | Alumnus Doctoral Program
My doctorate at the CCTPE was personally enriching in several ways: exploring my interests in private equity research, gaining deeper insights into scientific work, discussing and partnering with other researchers (at conferences) around the world – and by doing so meaningfully linking theory and practice.
Dr. Heiko Hinrichs
Private Equity Investment Professional, Bencis Capital Partners | Alumnus Doctoral Program
The CCTPE is excellently positioned both in academia and practice. During my time at the Center, we presented our work at renowned conferences, published in high-quality academic journals and joined forces with key opinion leaders to solve practical problems.
Our Guest Speakers
Dr. Thomas A. Jesch, LL.M. Taxation (Georgetown)
Managing Board Member, bii. German Association of Institutional Investors
Private equity is a promising asset class. Fund managers and investors alike can only tap its potential if they have the appropriate know-how. HHL offers a unique combination of theoretical and empirical depth blended with cases studies and industry dialogue. I am pleased to be able to make a small contribution as a guest speaker.
Michael Moritz
Managing Partner, Carlsquare GmbH
Carlsquare truly appreciates the cooperation with the Center for Corporate Transactions and Private Equity, which gives us the opportunity to share and discuss our insights from the midcap M&A practice with an interested student audience.
Our Supporters
The CCTPE ist supported by various high-profile companies and individuals: Andersch AG; AssetMetrix; Astorius; CARLSQUARE; Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank AG; Live & Learn Events by Fachmedien otto schmidt; Nordic Capital; Palero; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as well an anonymous HHL alumnus.
Yilmaz Bekyol
External Doctoral Candidate
Max Berninghaus
External Doctoral Candidate
Felix Bogateck
External Doctoral Candidate
Jahn Fischer
External Doctoral Candidate
Marvin Gindele
External Doctoral Candidate
Philipp Heisig
External Doctoral Candidate
Marius Kaiser
External Doctoral Candidate
Nikolaus Marcotty-Dehm
External Doctoral Candidate
Lukas Oswald
External Doctoral Candidate
Clara M. Schomaecker
External Doctoral Candidate