German finishing machine manufacturer Mathias Bäuerle has been rescued from insolvency by a consortium of investors. These are an alliance of a Swiss investor, several staff members and three foreign agents including the UK distributor Encore Machinery.
The rescue was very much a last minute move as in mid-November it was decided to end business operations and to shut down the factory. Prior to this decision, all interested parties with whom negotiations had been conducted in the last few months had declared their withdrawal.
According to the insolvency administrator of Mathias Bäuerle, Martin Mucha, strategic competitors had hoped for a market adjustment. For the other interested parties an involvement seemed to be too risky in view of the prolonged crisis of the printing and paper handling industry.
The folding machine as well as the inserting machine divisions will be continued without restrictions at the St. Georgen location by the rescue company, which will be renamed Mathias Bäuerle Falzen und Kuvertieren GmbH.
The rescue company will take over 106 employees and 18 apprentices. Friedhelm Brüstle, who for many years has been production manager, will become managing director. He said that the decision in favour of investors who are close to MB is consistent and sustainable because these people are best suited to judge and evaluate the chances and risks of the products and the market.
Mathias Bäuerle is descended from a company founded almost 150 years ago. Today it concentrates on automated inserting and folding machines as well as on mailing systems.
Contact: www.mb-bauerle.de and www.encoremachinery.co.uk
