The
US $ 1.5 billion India based JBM Group with
business interest in auto systems and assemblies has acquired major
shareholding in Germany based Linde-Wiemann GmbH KG, a leading manufacturer of
complex structural components and assemblies to automotive OEM’s worldwide. The
acquisition brings with it a plethora of synergies for JBM Group in the form of
new products, global customers, new German technologies that will not only help
in expanding the global footprint of the homegrown conglomerate but will also
aid in adding strategic value to its Indian operations, thereby increasing the
Group’s long-term competitiveness.
With
this acquisition, the JBM Group turnover will leapfrog to $2.2 billion. The acquisition
has been done through one of group’s flagship companies – Neel Metal Products
Ltd. The revenues of Linde-Wiemann currently stands at $700mn. Nishant Arya,
ED, JBM Group will take over additional charge as Chairman, Linde-Wiemann.
Linde-Wiemann,
headquartered in Dillenburg, Germany, specialises in proprietary technologies
in areas such as hot forming, tubular assemblies and usage of alternate
materials such as aluminium resulting in lighweighting in auto systems. The
company has a strong base of 17 manufacturing plants across 8 countries i.e.
Germany, US, China, Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa
with an employee strength over 2300 plus. L+W brings in an experience of over
70 years serving global auto OEMs such as BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda,
Porsche, Daimler, Ford, PSA, etc.JBM will also have access to L+W’s strengths
in domains such as Electric Vehicle components & systems and battery
structure & systems.
The
financing of the entire transaction has been done by ICICI Bank Limited.
L+W’s
stamping capabilities are aptly reflected by machines with pressing capacities
upto 3000 tonnes. The company also brings in complex progressive dies and
transfer presses along with hydraulic press lines being used for forming. The
core competence of its in-house tool shop includes extensive knowledge in the
field of ultra-high-strength steels and the integration of complex feeding
units. L+W’s current product portfolio includes critical auto systems such as
cross car beams, bumpers, rocker panels, tubular assemblies, etc.
JBM
manufactures key auto systems and high-level &safety critical assemblies
for almost all auto OEMs present in the country today. It has an end to end
product portfolio ranging from passenger cars, 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers to
commercial vehicles, farm and construction equipment. Most of its innovative
products are safety critical items such as chassis & suspension systems
like axles, twist beams, lower control arms, sub-frames, exhaust systems, air
tanks, fuel tanks, complete cowl assemblies, pedal boxes; aesthetical parts
like skin panels (doors, roof, rear panel, front panel, bumpers); BIW parts
& assemblies (floor, upper body parts like pillar, roof header, cross car
beam, cross truck beam, oilpan assembly) and many more.