Heidelberg steps up activities in the packaging market and gains potential strategic anchor shareholder. The management board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has signed an investment agreement with a strategic investor Masterwork Group Co Ltd for a joint venture JV factory in Tianjin. Masterwork intends to acquire a stake in Heidelberg in an amount of approximately 8.5 percent of Heidelberg’s share capital by way of a cash capital increase from authorised capital with an exclusion of shareholders’ subscription rights.
The proposed capital increase provides the opportunity for Heidelberg to acquire a further strategic anchor shareholder with a long-term investment horizon as well as to strengthen its equity. Furthermore, in the context of pending negotiations Heidelberg will examine whether Heidelberg can significantly expand its long-standing strategic distribution partnership with Masterwork, China’s largest manufacturer of die-cutters and hot-foil embossing machines. Thereby, Heidelberg aims to further enhance its market position in the growing area of packaging printing.