Interhyp

In 1999, two former investment bankers, Robert Haselsteiner and Marcus Wolsdorf, launched a venture in Munich to bring transparency to the German mortgage market. Their company, Interhyp, didn't issue loans itself. Instead, it acted as an online intermediary, allowing customers to compare mortgage products from a wide range of banks and financial institutions. This digital-first approach was a new concept in a traditionally opaque industry. The company's model of combining technology with expert advice quickly gained traction. Recognizing that many customers still valued face-to-face interaction for such a significant financial decision, Interhyp opened its first physical branches in 2005. This hybrid strategy proved successful, and in the same year, Interhyp launched what became Germany's most successful IPO of 2005. A significant chapter in Interhyp's journey began in 2008 when the Dutch financial giant ING Group made a public takeover offer for the company, valuing it at €416 million. The founders and major shareholders, Haselsteiner and Wolsdorf, supported the bid. Under ING's ownership, Interhyp maintained its independent brand and business model while expanding its network to over 500 lending partners. This acquisition marked the transition from a publicly-traded company to a subsidiary of a major European bank, with the stock market listing ending in 2011.