Munich, 26.06.2025. Callista Private Equity GmbH (‘Callista’) announces the acquisition of BME Austria Holding GmbH (in future Quester Holding GmbH), including its subsidiary Quester Baustoffhandel GmbH, from BME Group Holding B.V. (‘Seller’) by Callista Asset Management 31 GmbH (‘Buyer’).
Quester is based in Vienna and, with more than 300 employees, an established player in the Austrian building materials sector. The company is known nationwide under the slogan ‘Quester, mein Bester’ and is positioned as a one-stop shop primarily for business customers, but also for private customers. Particular expertise lies in the tiles segment. With its 20 locations, Quester primarily serves customers in eastern Austria. Half of the branches are located in and around Vienna, securing the company’s local market leadership.
Despite its strong market position in Austria, Quester was of subcritical size within the Seller’s group. Due to this and the increasingly challenging market environment in the building materials industry, the Seller decided to sell the company to a buyer who has the necessary experience and capacity to support the company in its development.
Going forward, the ‘Quester’ brand will be strengthened through targeted measures, with a particular focus on expanding the private label ‘BauProfi’. ‘The short-term goal is to regain recently lost market share. Quester management has already set the foundation to achieve this. In parallel, the cost structure will be put on a sustainable footing’, says Christopher Irion, Managing Director at Callista.