One of the world’s leading machine tool manufacturers, the UNITED GRINDING Group, has a new owner. The new owner structure comprises a strategically aligned pool of investors organized by the Swiss BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft. The sale of the Group by the Körber technology group was completed with effect from the end of June 29, 2018, following approval by the responsible supervisory authorities.
The UNITED GRINDING Group has experienced a very positive development in recent years and has been able to further expand its strong position in the machine tool market. Investments in innovative solutions, modern production technologies, the Group’s international locations and consistent focus on customer benefit, have all contributed to this positive development. The new owners want to systematically continue this success with UNITED GRINDING and the course previously pursued so successfully.
“BZ Bank is delighted to be able to offer its customers the opportunity to invest in a high-yielding international industry group, which is one of the leading providers in the relevant markets,” says Martin Ebner, CEO of the BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft. “For our long-term oriented investors, the ongoing positive development of the Group is of crucial importance. Further strengthening the Group’s solid foundation is therefore of great interest”, emphasizes Ebner.
“Our aim is to remain one of the market leaders, based on our broad and thus unique product portfolio. We also want to shape further developments in our customer industries actively. Together with our new owners, we will continue our international course of expansion and invest even more intensively in technological and digital innovations in our products and services portfolio,” says Stephan Nell, CEO of the UNITED GRINDING Group.
“We are pleased that the new strategic owner can open up further development opportunities for the UNITED GRINDING Group in order for them to continue to lead and actively shape their market in the future,” says Stephan Seifert, Chairman of the Executive Board of Körber AG.
About BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft
Founded in 1985, BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft specializes in trading participation share certificates, advising selected customers in the area of equity investment and financial investments, asset management, the management of collective capital investments and corporate advisory.
About UNITED GRINDING Group
The machine tool manufacturer UNITED GRINDING Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of precision machines for grinding, eroding, laser machining, combination machining and measuring processes. With its eight corporate brands BLOHM, JUNG, MÄGERLE, STUDER, SCHAUDT, MIKROSA, WALTER and EWAG, UNITED GRINDING offers a wide range of applications, a large product portfolio and services on the international market. The group employs around 2,400 employees and has more than 20 production, service and sales locations worldwide as well as agencies through third parties.
About Körber
Körber AG is the holding company of an international technology group. The Group unites leading technology companies with more than 130 production, service, and sales companies. At locations around the globe, Körber combines the advantages of a global presence with the strengths of highly specialized and flexible medium-sized companies to offer its customer solutions, products, and services in the Business Areas of Automation, Logistics Systems, Pharma Systems, Tissue and Tobacco, as well as Corporate Ventures and Körber Digital.
