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2007
Bremer KAEFER Group acquires G+H Schiffsausbau GmbH
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| Strategic investment for long-term expansion of shipbuilding expertise at KAEFER – a leading role in the European ship-building market Bremen, Germany, 22.05.2007. An exciting development in the European shipbuilding market: The Bremen KAEFER Group is in the process of acquiring 100% of G+H Schiffsausbau GmbH. The share deal is subject to approval from the German Cartel Office. The purchase agreement was signed Friday last week by representatives of the previous shareholder G+H Bautec GmbH in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Jörn M. Fetköter, Managing Director of the KAEFER Group from Bremen, so putting the final seal on further expansion of Bremen's traditional company KAEFER in the European shipbuilding sector. For many years, both companies have occupied a strong position in the German insulation market, competing with each other with a similar portfolio of services. “In recent years, the KAEFER Group has enjoyed outstanding growth at an international level and has also greatly stepped up its activities in developing the new Aerospace and Offshore business units”, says Fetköter. “The acquisition of G+H Schiffsausbau GmbH now allows us to strengthen one of our traditional sectors in our German and European root business, which remains important to us.” Shipbuilding is one of the five business units of the KAEFER Group. In this sector, the company has concentrated on the interior outfitting of cruise ships and mega yachts as well as on naval, cargo and special ships. Its range of services includes interior outfitting and cabin systems, traditional heat and cold insulation, as well as highly specific protection systems against noise and fire. Following acquisition, the amalgamation of the workforces from the companies KAEFER Schiffbau GmbH and G+H Schiffsausbau GmbH is of major importance. “We want to take advantage of the expertise of all staff and all available resources on a long-term basis, in order to ensure the strategic further development of our market position in the shipbuilding sector”, comments Fetköter. “This process will involve the management teams of both companies to an equal extent to exploit benefits and synergies for future joint activities. KAEFER's presence at all major shipyard sites in Germany and Europe is a key strategic factor in our business development, given the consolidation of European shipyards currently underway and also reinforces the position of suppliers in both Bremen's and Germany's shipbuilding industry.” Following integration, KAEFER now boasts some 300 staff in the German shipbuilding division alone and with its range of services generates sales of around 75 million euros. “By expanding the business unit of shipbuilding, KAEFER is set to consolidate its leading role in the interior ship outfitting market in Europe”, adds Fetköter. The KAEFER Group from Bremen is the world's largest independent company in the sectors of heat and cold insulation as well as noise and fire protection. This group of companies operates in around 40 countries and currently has a workforce of over 9,000. In 2006, KAEFER notched up worldwide sales in excess of 900 million euros. The core business of the company, which has been a family firm since 1918, is composed of the business units of Industry, Offshore, Shipbuilding, Construction and Aerospace. | |||||||||||
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 | The two companies have already worked together on the cruise ship “Pride of America”.
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 | Jörn M. Fetköter, Managing Director of KAEFER Group and Horst-Dieter Neumann, Managing Director of G+H Schiffsausbau GmbH after signing the contract.
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| KAEFER Isoliertechnik GmbH & Co. KG Managing Director Jörn M. Fetköter Tel.: +49 421.30 55-115 E-Mail: dagmar.steil@kaefer.com Corporate Communications Stefan Beeg Tel. +49 421.61 09-492 E-Mail: stefan.beeg@kaefer.com | |||||||||||
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