300 mandates and the Section 38 worry
You wonder what your company is worth if the obligation goes. We tell you, mandate by mandate.
Does this sound familiar?
Two situations we know
DPO plus ISO plus reporting channel
You have turned data protection into an officer platform. That is exactly what we buy.
Your day-to-day, as we know it
This is what happens in your business before anyone talks about succession
72 hours and counting
A data breach must be reported within 72 hours under Art. 33 GDPR. The client often only gets in touch on the third day.
Pile of DPAs
Every new service provider at the client needs a data processing agreement under Art. 28. The review lands on your desk.
Access requests
A former employee requests access. The deadline is one month, and the data sits in five systems.
Then came NIS2
Many clients had to register with the BSI. Suddenly the ISO is in as much demand as the DPO.
How we measure your company
The metrics we look at in the first call
We look at the numbers you use to run your business yourself. The right column shows our acquisition criterion.
| Metric | What it tells us | Our benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Number of ongoing DPO and ISO mandates | Shows the breadth of your recurring business. | We look for at least 150 mandates. |
| Retainer share of revenue | Shows how much revenue comes predictably through flat fees. | The higher, the better. |
| Certified DPOs and ISOs on the team | Shows whether mandates are served without the owner. | We look for at least 5 certified people. |
| Hours per mandate versus flat fee | Shows which mandates pay off and which do not. | Analysis per mandate, annually. |
| Mandate losses per year | Shows whether clients stay after the initial documentation. | With reasons for termination, three years. |
What actually changes after the acquisition
Step by step
We automate the desk work. Professional decisions and customer contact stay with your people.
TodayBuild the record of processing activities for a new mandate
With GTPProcessing activities are pre-filled from questionnaires and system lists. The DPO checks purposes and legal bases.
TodayReview the service provider's DPA
With GTPDeviations from the template are flagged. The DPO gives the approval.
TodayAnswer a data subject request
With GTPDeadlines, data search and draft reply run in a structured way. The DPO decides on scope and redactions.
TodayUpdate the activity report and technical and organizational measures
With GTPThe draft is built from the year's incidents and measures. The officer assesses and signs.
Your systems stay in use:veriniceOneTrust
AI potential in the segment
How much desk work can really be automated here
This is GTP's assessment. We show it upfront so you can see what we will work with after the acquisition.
Semi-automatic record of processing activities
A model generates entries for the record of processing activities from system lists, questionnaires and existing templates.
Data processing agreements checked against the rules
The document check automatically compares data processing agreements with Art. 28 and flags missing clauses.
Create training per mandate
Training production creates briefings and tests per industry with a text generator.
What limits the technology here
Client data is highly confidential, the officer is professionally liable, and the EU AI Act requires human oversight from August 2026.
What this means for you
Bring your mandate book in a structured form, and we will assess automation potential and Section 38 risk mandate by mandate.
Sources TÜV Rheinland Consulting: obligations for high-risk AI from August 2, 2026, including data governance, logging and human oversight (2026). Federal Statistical Office: 26% of companies use AI, 23% of those with 10 to 49 employees (2025).
What we want to see
The documents we need
After the first call and the non-disclosure agreement, these five documents are enough for a solid offer.
- Mandate list with DPO or ISO role, flat fee and term
- Template contracts for officer mandates with liability provisions
- Certificates and training records of the officers
- Overview of reported data breaches and contacts with authorities for clients
- Hours analysis per mandate for the last two years
What we buy
Our acquisition profile for this segment
Criteria
- 150 or more mandates on term contracts
- At least 5 certified DPOs or ISOs
- Churn below 10%
- EBITDA €0.5m to €5m
- Most clients above 50 people or subject to a DPIA obligation
Value drivers
- Mandates with an Art. 37 obligation (sensitive data, monitoring)
- ISO and NIS2 services in the portfolio
- Contract terms longer than 24 months
Value reducers
- Very small mandates below 20 people (Section 38 exposure)
- Standard flat fees below €100 per month
- Mandates that depend on a single person
How you can tell we know your business
Three facts you can quote
- 01The federal and state governments plan to remove Section 38 BDSG by 12/31/2026 (conference of state premiers 12/04/2025, dr-datenschutz.de 06/2026).
- 02The NIS2 Implementation Act affects about 29,500 companies, about 11,000 had not registered by 07/31/2026 (secjur, mars solutions 2026).
- 03Software providers with a DPO service such as heyData and DataGuard grow with venture capital.
Market range, third-party source
What comparable companies trade at in the market
| Size class | EBITDA multiple |
|---|---|
| Micro-cap, revenue below €5m The relevant class for most succession cases in this segment | 3.5x to 5.5x |
| Small-cap, revenue €5m to €50m | 5.0x to 7.0x |
Category business services (B2B). Source: DUB KMU-Multiples Q2/2026. The DUB figures show asking prices and price expectations on a business marketplace. They do not include completed transactions. The range comes from an independent third party and is not an offer from GTP.
From multiple to cash
The multiple gives the enterprise value. What reaches your account depends on four items:
- Net financial debt
- Loans, leases and shareholder accounts are deducted, cash is added.
- Working capital
- We assume a normal level. An account emptied before the sale reduces the price.
- Investment backlog
- Vehicles, measuring equipment and software due in the next two years are deducted from the price.
- Payment structure
- Part of the price is paid only after signing, through a rollover or a performance-based component.
What lowers the value
If one of these points applies, the value drops:
- The owner personally holds the key customers
- Short remaining terms or contracts that can be terminated at any time
- If a large share of revenue depends on one customer, the price goes down.
- No second management level that runs the business without the owner
We calculate your value in the first call using your numbers. We go through the four items openly with you, even if the result is below your expectations.
All market data and the regulatory timeline for compliance, testing and certification
Frequently asked questions
What owners in this segment ask
Will the DPO obligation be dropped, and what does that mean for the price?
Probably yes, though not right away. Very small mandates lose value. Mandates with GDPR obligations, an ISO role or a reporting channel remain valuable. We value the mandate book on that basis.
How do you compete with DataGuard and heyData?
With personal service. Software delivers templates. We deliver site visits, advice and liability, plus our own automation for records of processing and DPAs.
Do you buy solo DPOs?
No. At least 5 specialists. Providers such as ad hoc datenschutz take over individual mandates.
How fast?
Response usually within 72 h, indicative offer in 2 to 4 weeks, mandate analysis as a separate step.
Compliance, testing and certification
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Why we buy this segment
Your clients have obligations to meet, and your business makes sure they do. We buy businesses that do this reliably. Professional responsibility stays with the people who carry it today.
I am responsible for the purchase agreement and the handover. For businesses that need a license or accreditation, the deal structure decides whether the approval survives the change of ownership.
For M&A advisors, tax advisors and succession advisors
Response on your client usually within 72 hours
Acquisition profile, teaser metrics and our commitments for all 24 segments are on a separate page. We only approach your client through you.
First step
Talk to a buyer who knows your segment
A 30-minute call is enough to know whether we fit. Afterwards you get a written assessment with reasons.
Request a confidential first call
Or call us: +49 40 89741812
ConfidentialOnly the three partners see your enquiry. An NDA is possible in advance on request. We share nothing with third parties.