M & A

Deutsche Rohstoff: Farewell to tungsten

Deutsche Rohstoff AG is hoping to sell its tungsten business. Tungsten prices are subject to wild oscillation and the company wants to concentrate its resources on its oil and gas business. The company, listed as an Entry Standard, is seeking to divest itself of its mining project in Australia as soon as possible and hints that preliminary talks are under-weigh. In 2013, Wolfram Camp contributed 7.6 million Euros to a total group revenue of 17,8 million Euros. On the other hand, the Australian participation heightened the need for amortization which in turn contributed to a year-end deficit for 2013 of 7.65 million Euros.

Bastei Lübbe: Growth in Digital Publishing

Bastei Lübbe AG, the Prime Standard publishing house listed on the Frankfurt bourse is acquiring a majority stake in BookRix (supplier of digital self-publishing) with a monthly output of approximately one thousand e-books. In addition to 560,000 users, BookRix also supplies online stores like i-Tunes and Amazon. In 2013 BookRix had no fewer than three titles in the Amazon Top Ten sales list. This acquisition rounds off the traditional business of Bastei Lübbe. The purchase price has not been made public.

Heidelberger Druck: More participation – another investor

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is turning more digital. It has increased its stake from 30 to 100 per cent in Gallus Holding, the company specialised in printing labels. The company’s aim is to shift from its outdated traditions to a more typically computer based approach. The machine tool manufacturer will pay for the acquisition mostly with its own shares by which, with a 9 percent stake, the previous owners of Gallus, the Swiss based  Rüesch family enterprise will become the new anchor investor of Heideldruck. The transaction also includes a cash payment – certainly less than 10 million Euros. 2013-14 was the first time in the past five financial years that  Heideldruck was no longer in the red.