Geutebruck is entering a new phase of ownership and management as investment company IBEX Wachstumspartner takes a stake in the Germany-based video security technology provider, with AI group Merantix also investing in the company.

As part of the transaction, Co-Managing Directors Katharina Geutebruck  and Christoph Hoffmann will sell all of their shares and leave their operational roles with the company. Tobias Huemmerich, previously Geutebruck’s chief technology officer, will assume management responsibilities going forward.

Katharina Geutebruck  has led the family business founded by her father Thomas Geutebruck  alongside Hoffmann. The company, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Windhagen, Germany, provides video management software and associated hardware for capturing, storing, analyzing and providing video data.

“It was crucial for us to place the future of Geutebruck in good hands,” Katharina Geutebruck  said. “We are delighted to have found in IBEX a partner who understands, shares and lives the values of German family businesses – and who at the same time supports our growth ambitions.”

Geutebruck said the investment is intended to support the company’s continued growth as it expands the use of its video management technology beyond traditional security applications.

The company sees opportunities to use AI-based applications and anonymized video data to identify potential workflow efficiencies and improve occupational safety. Merantix, a European AI group co-founded by Dr. Rasmus Rothe, will invest alongside IBEX and provide expertise in the development of AI-based applications.

Huemmerich, who joined Geutebruck seven years ago, said the company has evolved from a video security technology provider for highly critical environments into an internationally positioned technology company serving critical infrastructure, public spaces and large corporations.

“AI also opens up entirely new opportunities for our customers in the area of business operations,” Huemmerich said. “With IBEX and Merantix as our new partners, we want to make these opportunities accessible to our customers and consistently continue our path as one of Europe’s leading providers of video management software.”

IBEX Managing Director Jan Dreesen said the investment reflects the growing importance and value of video data as well as the company’s confidence in Geutebruck ’s technology.

“Together with Tobias Huemmerich and his team, we will now work on further driving internationalisation and expanding the range of services offered to Geutebruck’s customers,” Dreesen said.

IBEX is an owner-managed investment company focused on succession situations involving Germany’s small and mid-sized businesses. Its investments are funded by its founding partners and co-investors that include family businesses, entrepreneurs and family offices.

The Geutebruck transaction was expected to close Aug. 31, according to the company’s Aug. 26 announcement.