M & A

Capital Stage: Capital for more solar energy

SDax-listed Capital Stage AG, has launched a strategic venture jointly with Gothaer Versicherungen in the field of renewable energy. The insurance company is offering the solar panel and wind farm company a jouissance right capital of 150 million Euro for a duration of 20 years. Capital Stage intends to use this revenue in the future to fund solar generating and the set-up of solar power-plants especially in Germany, France and Italy. The company hopes to have completed the investment stage before the end of 2015 and thus be able to count on doubling production capacity for an ascertainable period of time.

WMF: Financial investors Kohlber Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Fiba are expecting to conclude the purchase of kitchen equipment manufacturer WMF AG by year’s end 2015. The announcement appears in the Börse online journal. The two investors already hold 92% of WMF share capital in a holding company called Finedining Capital. The holdings of minority shareholders are expected to be acquired by a squeeze out cash payment of a fair price, presently deemed to be 5837 Euro per share. At the meeting in January, shareholders will be called upon to vote on transferring the remaining share capital to Finedining Capital. In the meantime General Standard listed WMF AG, has sold its US subsidiary Alfi, producer of insulated coffee pots, to the Thermos group considered by WMF a world leader in its market. No information has been forthcoming from either party as to the price of the transaction. For its part, WMF is moving towards progressively divesting itself of brand companies and concentrate more on kitchens and kitchen furniture, and professional coffee machines.

SKW: Adieu Sweden

The SKW Metallugie Holding AG group has sold a Swedish calcium carbide factory to the German chemical concern AlzChem. The details of the transaction have not been divulged. In divesting itself of 100 percent of its holding in SKW Metallurgy Sweden AB – now Nordic Carbide AB – SKW continues to pursue its new management strategy of increasingly concentrating on its core business and growing in key markets.