Acture's Strategic Acquisition of Evermood: A Milestone in Corporate Mental Health Support

The corporate health landscape in Europe is experiencing significant transformation as companies increasingly prioritize employee wellbeing. One notable development in this space is the acquisition of Berlin-based Evermood by Dutch company Acture, marking a strategic expansion in the employee welfare solutions market and setting new standards for workplace mental health support.

The Rise of Evermood: From Startup to Award-Winning Platform

Founded in 2019 by Marvin Homburg and Lara von Petersdorff-Campen, Evermood began with a clear mission to improve workplace wellbeing, particularly supporting employees who experienced sexual harassment or discrimination[13]. Within just a few years, the company transformed into a comprehensive work-life platform offering holistic wellbeing services to organizations of all sizes.
Evermood's remarkable growth trajectory culminated in 2022 when it was recognized as the German HR Startup of the Year by the Bundesverband der Personalmanager e.V. (German Federation of HR Managers)[7]. This prestigious award acknowledged Evermood's innovative approach to workplace mental health support at a time when such services were becoming increasingly critical.

"Crises are omnipresent at the moment. The need for mental health promotion is more important than ever. We are very pleased that Evermood has been understood as an innovative and effective instrument for sustainably increasing the well-being, satisfaction and motivation of employees," noted the company leadership upon receiving the award[7].

### A Comprehensive Support Platform

What distinguishes Evermood in the market is its holistic approach to employee wellbeing through a versatile platform that offers:

• 24/7 access to over 300 helpful exercises, videos, and articles
• Diverse virtual workshops and keynotes
• Professional one-on-one counseling from psychologists
• Integration capabilities with existing corporate systems[1][3]

The platform's effectiveness is evidenced by usage rates that are reportedly up to 25 times higher than traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), addressing a common challenge in corporate wellness initiatives where employee engagement often remains low[1].

Acture: The Strategic Acquirer

The acquiring company, Acture, has established itself as a leader in employee welfare solutions, particularly in the Netherlands. With 15 years of experience implementing private social security benefits for Dutch employers, Acture handles approximately 120,000 sickness notifications annually for 6,200 employers and is responsible for implementing 25 billion euros in wage costs—roughly 10% of total wages in the Netherlands[2].
Since 2020, Acture has been a portfolio company of the IK SC II fund advised by IK Partners, positioning it for strategic growth in the European market[6].

The Acquisition: A Strategic Milestone

In September 2023, Acture announced the acquisition of Evermood, marking a significant expansion into the German market[4][6][9]. This transaction represented Acture's first acquisition in Germany, identified as a growth market for high-quality employer services[6].
The founding team of Evermood continued to lead the company post-acquisition while also maintaining a stake in the business through a re-investment in Acture, demonstrating their commitment to the company's future direction[4][9].
Maudie Derks, CEO of Acture, highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition: "The increasing psychological illnesses and associated absences are putting increasing pressure on German employers. In addition, bottlenecks in the labor market, both due to the shortage of skilled workers and the aging workforce, ensure that employers have to pay attention to how they keep their talents sustainably healthy"[9].
Similarly, Evermood's leadership expressed enthusiasm about the new chapter. Marvin Homburg, Co-CEO of Evermood, stated: "Together with Acture, we have the capacity to expand our Work Life platform with many new services and are very pleased to be able to offer an even more attractive service portfolio to our existing and new customers"[9].

Building a European Welfare Solutions Leader

The acquisition of Evermood aligns with Acture's broader strategy of becoming the European market leader in employee welfare solutions. Since the Evermood acquisition, Acture has continued its expansion in Germany through additional strategic acquisitions:
‍

1. Kölner Institut für Management (early 2024)
2. moveUP (late 2023)
3. My7steps (January 2025)[11]

The acquisition of My7steps is particularly noteworthy as it brought the Value Based Counseling® (VBC) method into Acture's service portfolio. This clinically proven counseling approach has demonstrated remarkable success in helping individuals overcome psychological problems and is recognized by German health insurance providers[2][10].

The Broader Context: Rising Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace

The strategic significance of these acquisitions becomes even clearer when considering the growing challenges of workplace mental health. According to the DAK Gesundheitsreport 2023 cited on Evermood's website, mental health challenges are resulting in significant productivity losses and increasing costs for organizations[1][3].
The acquisition of platforms like Evermood and My7steps positions Acture to address these challenges comprehensively, offering preventive measures, crisis support, and sustainable reintegration services—all critical components of a modern employee welfare approach.

Future Outlook: Integration and Expansion

Following the acquisition, Evermood continues to operate under its brand while benefiting from Acture's resources and complementary services. The partnership enables Evermood to enhance its offering and extend its reach across markets.
The integration of Evermood into Acture's portfolio represents a significant step toward creating a comprehensive ecosystem of employee welfare solutions that address the full spectrum of workplace wellbeing needs—from preventive measures to crisis support and reintegration services.

Conclusion: A New Benchmark in Corporate Mental Health Support

The acquisition of Evermood by Acture establishes a new benchmark in corporate mental health support, bringing together complementary strengths to address the growing challenges of workplace wellbeing. As mental health continues to gain prominence on corporate agendas, integrated platforms offering preventive, supportive, and rehabilitative services will become increasingly valuable.
For organizations seeking effective solutions to support employee wellbeing, the enhanced capabilities resulting from this acquisition present promising opportunities to address mental health challenges comprehensively, reduce absenteeism, and foster healthier, more productive workplace environments.
This strategic move not only strengthens both companies' market positions but also contributes to the broader mission of creating better work environments where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

Citations:

[1] https://www.evermood.com
[2] https://www.evermood.com/en/blog/pressrelease-acture-acquires-my7steps
[3] https://www.evermood.com/en/old-home
[4] https://www.pplaw.com/en/transactions/poellath-advises-shareholders-sale-evermood-gmbh-acture
[5] https://albiacapital.com/en/noticia/albia-imap-advises-arimon-logistics-in-its-sale-to-everwood-capital/
[6] https://renzenbrink-partner.de/en/deals/renzenbrink-partner-advises-acture-on-the-acquisition-of-evermood-gmbh-2/
[7] https://www.hkp.com/en/article/evermood-wins-hr-start-up-award-2022
[8] https://www.evermood.com/en/blog
[9] https://foundersfoundation.de/content-library/acture-uebernimmt-evermood/
[10] https://www.linkedin.com/company/evermood
[11] https://mena.nl/artikel/acture-group-shopt-alweer-in-duitsland/
[12] https://www.l-bank.info/download/version/b19d02aa-0d17-4864-a2de-a9aeb14e96f6/annual-report-2023_10-10-2024.pdf
[13] https://www.acture.eu/companies/evermood/
[14] https://www.active-ma.de/en/
[15] https://www.evermood.com/de
[16] https://www.pv-tech.org/european-investment-fund-commits-us56m-to-everwood-capitals-plan-for-1gw-of-solar-projects/
[17] https://discover.dealflow.eu/companies/evermood
[18] https://anquorcf.com/our-blog/how-do-two-companies-merge/?lang=en
[19] https://riveancapital.com/news/rivean-capital-has-acquired-a-majority-stake-in-acture-group-from-ik-partners/
[20] https://startup-map.berlin/transactions.exits/f/industries/anyof_health_wellness%20beauty/locations/anyof_Germany_France/regions/anyof_Berlin%2FBrandenburg%20Metropolitan%20Region
[21] https://www.evermood.com/en/blog/employability
[22] https://renzenbrink-partner.de/en/transactions-3/
[23] https://ir.neuronetics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/neuronetics-and-greenbrook-tms-announce-closing-transaction/
[24] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marvinhomburg_its-a-wrap-when-lara-von-petersdorff-campen-activity-7110198407591272448-88z2
[25] https://hl.com/about-us/transactions/acture-ik-partners-rivean-capital/
[26] https://startup-map.berlin/transactions.exits/f/industries/anyof_health_food_wellness%20beauty/locations/anyof_Germany_France/regions/anyof_Berlin%2FBrandenburg%20Metropolitan%20Region