Plastech acquires majority share in the Kautex

Vienna-based Plastech Beteiligungs GmbH is blow moulding machine maker Kautex Maschinenbau Group’s new majority shareholder after acquiring a 74.9% stake. The Austrian company takes over from the previous investor capiton AG (Berlin), which had acquired its shares in Kautex Holding GmbH in 2013. The Kautex management team under Dr. Olaf Weiland and Andreas Lichtenauer will retain a significant investment in the company.

Kautex Maschinenbau says it has enjoyed above-average growth during the last 12 years. The company’s revenue increased from EUR60 million in 2006 to over EUR140 million in 2017. Financial investors played an important role in making this achievement possible, it says.

CEO Dr. Olaf Weiland sees the majority acquisition by Plastech as the perfect opportunity to advance the long-term development of the company with the support of a medium-sized principal shareholder.

“We are very pleased with the partner we have found in Plastech and the entrepreneurs behind the company,” commented Weiland. “We particularly like the company’s focus on the plastics technology sector, on profitable growth achieved with a customer-centric approach, innovation and digitalization, and on taking a long-term approach to business,” he added. Weiland also welcomed the fact that the partners are focused on the same important competencies. “Overcoming our customers’ challenges is one of our key competencies and this focus is shared by our new majority shareholder.”

Kautex also says under the previous principal shareholder capiton AG, investment was key to enabling the leading manufacturer of extrusion blow moulding machines to further develop its customer service and packaging business with a view to long-term success. The company was also able to invest in its workforce and in a machine production facility.

Plastech is an independent industrial holding company which invests in small to medium-sized companies in the plastics sector. The people behind Plastech have long-standing experience in the plastics industry. As a long-term owner, Plastech actively supports the strategic development of its investments.

The approval of the competition authorities is required before the deal can be closed, which is expected in March 2018 at the latest.