Leifeld Metal Spinning NewsUS

	Gruppe Georg Kofler takes over Leifeld Ahlen, 10 October 2007. Gruppe Georg Kofler has acquired 95 per cent of the shares of Leifeld Metal Spinning GmbH. The transaction was completed in the past week. Gruppe Georg Kofler acquired the Leifeld shares from BLB Betreuungsgesellschaft für Liegenschaften und Beteiligungen mbH based in Dresden. The contractual partners have agreed to maintain confidentiality concerning the details of the transaction. Leifeld is a global market leader in the development, production and sale of machine tools, specializing in metal forming (see separate company portrait). The company has 110 employees and will generate revenues of 30 million euros in 2007. The EBITDA is expected to amount to 3 million euros. With an export quota of 80 per cent in the current fiscal year, Leifeld impressively demonstrated the international competitiveness of its machines. The company is free of debt and the acquisition will have no negative effect on the company’s finances in the future. In 2007, a positive cash flow in the single-digit million euro range will be achieved. In the last few years, Leifeld has shown strong growth: Revenues have almost tripled since 2004, while the number of employees has doubled since then. For 2008, Leifeld again expects a top-line growth in revenue of at least ten per cent. The management and works’ committee of Leifeld welcome the new shareholder. Peter Celka, Chairman of the works’ committee, also welcomes the change of ownership: “With the entry of Gruppe Georg Kofler as a shareholder, Leifeld has a solid and predictable shareholder structure for the future. We expect this to open up new opportunities for our company and its employees.“ Dr. Georg Kofler, shareholder and CEO of Gruppe Georg Kofler, is delighted by his successful acquisition: “I am proud that Gruppe Georg Kofler acquired such a high-profile company as Leifeld. Leifeld is a truly healthy company with competence created over decades and internationally competitive innovative strength. Here, we are investing as an entrepreneur with a long-term focus – short-term maximization of profits is not our objective. Gruppe Georg Kofler will support the existing executive management team and the entire company, enabling further growth by increased research and development and a first-class customer service.“ Media contact Daniela Stolley Tel.: +49 (0) 89 53 90 69 0 Fax: +49 (0) 89 53 90 69 69 Mail: ds@gruppegk.com Leifeld Metal Spinning GmbH Feldstraße 2-20, 59229 Ahlen/Westfalen Holger Hansen, management Tel.: +49 (0) 2382 966 07-205 Fax: + 49 (0) 2382 966 07-212 Mail: h.hansen@leifeldms.de Internet: http://www.leifeldms.de (for English version click on flag)
Holger Hansen , Chief Executive Officer


Werner Hütter, managing director


Peter Piezynski , managing director


Hartmut Last, Dr.Georg Kofler, Werner Hütter, Peter Piezynski


Dr.Georg Kofler
Leifeld Appoints Holger Hansen as Chief Executive Officer Effective immediately, Holger Hansen resumes office as chairman of Leifeld Metal Spinning GmbH Furthermore, Holger Hansen acquires a 5 percent stake in Leifeld Managing Director Hartmut Last shall leave the company Hansen: „Our main focus in the future: innovation, quality, and a first class customer service.“ Ahlen, April 9, 2008. Holger Hansen, aged 33, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Leifeld Metal Spinning GmbH, based in Ahlen/Westphalia, Germany. He will assume the role effective immediately. Within the framework of the executive management, Holger Hansen will focus on Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Innovation functions. Furthermore, Holger Hansen has acquired a 5 percent stake in the company. The remaining 95 percent are held by Gruppe Georg Kofler GmbH, Munich, Germany. Hartmut Last, the incumbent managing director, will leave the company by mutual and amicable agreement. His previous areas of responsibility shall be integrated into the new department Finance, Purchasing and Organization, its head reporting directly to the CEO from now onwards. Since February 2008 already, Holger Hansen has very successfully overseen Leifeld’s operational business, representing Gruppe Georg Kofler. In January 2008, Hansen joined Gruppe Georg Kofler from Premiere AG, the leading German Pay-TV company. As Vice President CRM he assumed responsibility for Premiere’s entire customer base and included the management of all commercialization and service activities related to Premiere’s 4.3 million signed customers. Holger Hansen: „I am very pleased to lead this well-established historic brand Leifeld into the future – jointly with my fellow managers. We shall focus on substantially improving the quality, performance and user friendliness of Leifeld machines through a continuous and sustained innovation process. In addition, we shall work very hard to guarantee a worldwide first class customer service. And we will define ambitious targets for each and every department that I, together with Leifeld’s management and all of its employees, shall strive to meet.” Werner Hütter and Peter Piezynski have agreed to remain on Leifeld’s board: Hütter will continue to run the flow forming department and Piezynski remains in charge of the metal spinning business. Dr. Georg Kofler, sole shareholder of Gruppe Georg Kofler: “I am truly convinced that the reorganization of the management team will stimulate Leifeld’s business dynamics. First and foremost, its Leifeld’s customer base who will greatly benefit-they take center stage with all of our efforts. New and interesting perspectives will open up for managers and employees alike, as Leifeld shall increase investments in innovation, productivity, and customer service. I would like to thank Hartmut Last for his dedicated work and his contributions to Leifeld’s success over the previous years. We all wish him the very best for his future endeavors. At the same time, I am delighted that both Werner Hütter and Peter Piezynski shall continue to work for Leifeld under the chairmanship of Holger Hansen, their expertise and experience of many years in the trade is a very valuable asset for us.