Ceepackaging

Corporate

Bobst Group completes the acquisition of Fischer & Krecke

Fischer & Krecke is an old-established machine manufacturer with a tradition of more than 125 years that has attained a leading position primarily in the world market for flexo printing presses. The agreement with Bobst affects the shares in Fischer Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, which is majority shareholder of Fischer & Krecke GmbH & Co. KG as well as Maschinenbau Wilhelm Kochsiek GmbH.

The Grautoff family will however stay shareholder of the subsidiary of SMB (Sondermaschinenbau GmbH); therefore this company will be dissolved from Fischer Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH.

The buyer – Bobst Group S.A. – is a company listed on the stock exchange that is regarded as world market leader in the field of machines for the production of packaging. Bobst plans to amend and extent its existing portfolio for printing machines by the acquisition of Fischer & Krecke GmbH & Co. KG. To explain his decision to sell Mr. Dietrich Bernhard Grautoff – majority shareholder and chairman of the advisory board of Fischer & Krecke stated the following: My family sells off the company very reluctantly. After thorough consideration in the family circle we feel confident that a strategic connection with Bobst Group is the best solution to protect the further future of the company. With this decision the future product development, securing of the buying markets and further enlargement of worldwide distribution as well as the necessary funding can be ensured most likely. The shareholders and the members of the advisory board are convinced that they have found the best solution for employee job security and therefore for the future of Fischer & Krecke. The production location in Bielefeld will not only be retained, it will even be strengthened by adding new activities.

Fischer & Krecke is managed by its managing directors Dr. Georg Grautoff and Andreas Kückelmann. For the future management board the Bobst manager Ralph Schuck will be appointed