Thuringia checks buying the blocking minority at Jenoptik {http://bit.ly/QnpAil}
Last EnBW affair brought a state government to implode. Now comes Thuringia's Minister President Christine Dear servant in the industrial policy quandary. How powerful the policy is to be the flagship group, Jenoptik?
Hamburg - The Free State of Thuringia explores the acquisition of a large block of shares from the principal owner of the technology group Jenoptik Show Chartfrom. Currently, the Austrian entrepreneur family Humer still holds 14.01 percent of the East German flagship company that manufactures next optical products among other components for tanks, fighter jets and other weapons systems.
Head of the family Rudolf Humer, 70, however, strive for the exit, according to financial circles. There have already given soundings with representatives of Thuringia.
The Free State Development Bank holds over its current 11 percent stake in the company with 3400 employees and 600 million euros in sales. In extreme cases, Thuringia would thus come to a blocking stake of 25.01, with the might characterize all important decisions the country.
Memories of Stefan undersecretary be monitored
The plans bring the state government under Dear Christine Knecht (CDU) almost six months before the state election in a delicate situation. Finally, the CDU government was shattered in Baden-Württemberg at a similarly massive industrial policy step. The then Prime Minister Stefan undersecretary had bought in late 2010 a large block of shares in the energy supplier EnBW at a high price, without involving parliamentary bodies. He justified the purchase with the defense of other unwelcome foreign shareholders.
The Hanseatic City of Hamburg, however, continues with its commitment for years a comparatively successful course: About ten years ago she held as the cosmetics company Beiersdorf Show Chartin the city, and the commitment with the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd as minority owners is so far the consent of the people.
2 Part: Party friendship with CEO
What dear servant justify an entry is unclear. With its blocking minority could prevent the destruction of the group, from their party colleague Michael Mertin is performed. However, Jenoptik is protected as a manufacturer equipment-related goods, at least in part, from too aggressive actions by shareholders by the Foreign Trade Act.
For Humer the moment seems favorable: he had a share in late 2007 Jenoptik Show Chartacquired by nearly 15 percent for more than 50 million euros. Especially in recent years, but the price has increased rapidly. Currently, the share of 14.01 percent still on the stock market is worth almost 105 million euros.
A spokeswoman for the investment vehicle of Humers, the ECE Industrial Holdings, announced: "We are constantly being approached by various interested parties regarding our Jenoptik commitment." Specifically, to contacts with representatives of Thuringia she declined to comment.
Dear servant answered a telephone and written request for an opinion is not, nor Matthias Wierlacher, CEO of Thuringian Development Bank, on the Thuringia keeps his Jenoptik's shares. Supervision of the Development Bank keeps Finance Minister Wolfgang Voss.
The denied that the Free State of Thuringia was interested in increasing its stake. Asked whether he could rule out that also apply to institutions of the Free State, said his spokesman, the Free State was not involved in Jenoptik. On the question of how this thesis together so passe, that the Development Bank is involved in Jenoptik and the bank in turn is a public institution and is funded indirectly by Thuringia, he did not answer