Will be sold to Chinese Midea KUKA
Board of Directors Till Reuter defended the takeover offer of the Chinese as Midea before shareholders. KUKA could increase sales to one billion euros with the help of the Chinese Wholesalers suppliers. Berlin Government warns, Voith's major shareholder is consequence.
The Board of Directors of the German robot manufacturer KUKA's annual general meeting in Augsburg carefully for the takeover bid of the Chinese as Midea recruited. He must examine it open-ended, CEO Till Reuter said, but stressed that the offer can "support our strategy". China is world's largest robot market. By 2018, the number of sold industrial robots to almost double - according to the most recent forecasts of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Numbers are 400,000 newly installed units per year. "China alone recorded a robot increase by over 50 percent", Patrik Schwarzkopf, Managing Director of VDMA Robotics + Automation reports. Followed closely by markets such as Japan (+ 17%), and United States (+ 11%). 70 per cent of global supplies go in only five markets. (See graphic)
KUKA would increase its sales there by now 425 million to one billion euros in 2020. "A partner who supports this strategy and provides us with even better market access, could be an advantage for KUKA," Reuter said.
KUKA is the world market leader for robots for the auto industry. The small shareholders fear because they a selloff of German key technology abroad. "Basically I can say today that, so how it was announced, the offer can support our strategy", said Reuter in Augsburg. Midea could help especially in the conquest of the Chinese market.
A Berlin Government officials warned however: "we support investment in Germany, but we must take care that no technology runoff takes place," he told Reuters news agency. "The activities of Chinese companies has increased. We monitor this developments intensively."
The refrigerator and air conditioning manufacturer Midea announced last week to provide up to 4.5 billion euros for the Swabian automation specialists China Printer Chip Manufacturers. He holds over 10 percent of KUKA and want to take over at least 30 percent. The offer must be checked open-ended opinion by KUKA major shareholder Voith. Voith CEO Hubert Lienhard said on Monday puzzled over the positive statements of the KUKA Board's annual general meeting last week. The offer from China was surprising and yet not specifically lie above. "Said the Board of Directors, he checks the result open - how he can make already favorable comments, I do not understand," Lamothe said.
The industry group is involved in KUKA with 25.1 per cent. With this blocking Voith sees himself well positioned, Lienhard said. As soon as the offer was above, Voith will carefully consider whether the Group keep the share or sell. The preparation of joint projects in the industry 4.0, which were an important reason for the joining of KUKA, were put on hold for the time being, Lienhard said.
