DWS and Hawksford Expand European Footprint Through Acquisitions

DWS signed a binding agreement to purchase 100 percent of Peakside Capital Advisors, a Zug-based specialist manager overseeing more than €1.7 billion in real estate assets. The transaction, expected to close by the end of 2026, integrates Peakside’s expertise in opportunistic and value-add investments into the DWS alternatives platform. Founders Stefan Aumann and Boris Schran, alongside senior leadership, will remain with the firm to ensure continuity as DWS expands its footprint in Germany and Poland.

Simultaneously, Hawksford completed the acquisition of Breda-based Liberation Management and the Netherlands division of the United Group. These additions increase the firm's Dutch headcount to over 80 professionals and grant it a strategic foothold near key industrial hubs like Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Supported by STAR Capital, Hawksford has now executed ten acquisitions since 2022, focusing on scaling its corporate and private client services through a centralized, technology-driven platform.