Livingstone advises global technology group Kurtz Ersa on the acquisition of SCHILLER Automation
Livingstone advised Kurtz Holding GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG (“Kurtz Ersa”) on the acquisition of SCHILLER AUTOMATION GmbH & Co. KG (“SCHILLER”). With the acquisition of SCHILLER, Kurtz Ersa expands the range of automation solutions offered, strengthening its market presence in the automation sector.
Kurtz Ersa is a leading high-tech mechanical engineering company with a turnover of approximately EUR 275MM in 2021 and more than 1,250 employees. As part of a strategic repositioning, the Company is now divided into three business segments, electronics production equipment, molding machines, and the automation segment. Kurtz Ersa Automation specializes in holistic turnkey solutions, robust modular construction in series business, and innovative system integration. It acts as the central point of contact for automation expertise in the Kurtz Ersa Group.
SCHILLER was founded in 1978 and is a leading provider of integrated automation, process, and system solutions. The company focuses on assembly lines for the automotive industry and medical technology and offers a comprehensive range of services from engineering, manufacturing, and assembly, and commissioning of automation solutions – complemented by after-sales and customer support services. The head office of the owner-managed family company with currently 160 employees is in Sonnenbühl in the Neckar-Alb industrial region.
“The integration into the Kurtz Ersa Group with a global sales and service network and a long-term growth strategy opens up new growth opportunities for SCHILLER while simultaneously providing job security for Sonnenbühl employees,” stated Stefan Schiller, Managing Director of Schiller Automation.
“Thanks to SCHILLER’s excellent market position, the existing know-how, and many years of industrial experience, we are thus significantly further developing our “Automation” business field,” said Kurtz Ersa CEO Rainer Kurtz.
Dr. Michael Wenzel, Head of the Automation business segment at Kurtz Ersa, shared, “With the takeover of the automation expert SCHILLER, we are further expanding our portfolio of automation solutions and will continue to offer our customers the highest level of functionality, quality and adherence to delivery dates.”
Dr. André Schröer, Partner at Livingstone Düsseldorf, commented, “Following two successful transactions by Kurtz Ersa in 2018 and 2020 as part of the strategic realignment of the group, we are pleased to have now supported the shareholders and management on the buyer side. The acquisition of SCHILLER will sustainably strengthen the automation business area and lead to further growth. We thank everyone involved for the excellent cooperation once again.”
The buyer received legal advice from Erlanger Treuhand GmbH, Erlangen, by the team of Attorney/StB/WP Ulrich Bail and Attorney Bernd Marschall.
