As part of the strategic portfolio streamlining that was announced at the end of last year, GEA is divesting two companies that until now have been part of the Group’s Farm Technologies division. The companies concerned are GEA Farm Technologies Japy SAS, a French manufacturer of milk cooling tanks based in Dijon, and Royal De Boer Stalinrichtingen B.V., a leading European supplier of various types of barn equipment based in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. After estimated closing in the end of December, the business will be taken over by Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, a stock listed private equity company. The purchase agreement was signed on November 4.
“We are pleased that Mutares SE & Co. KGaA will become the new owner of both companies, as Mutares is in a position to develop each company’s business potential to the best possible extent,” commented Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group AG.
The sale will allow GEA’s Farm Technologies division to focus on: automation and digitalization of milking installations and processes, feeding systems, smart solutions for herd management and on products that ensure milk quality, guarantee facility hygiene and improve cow health. Likewise, the division will continue to offer a wide range of manure handling products and systems, particularly for the North American market.
“We will of course retain access to the product portfolio of barn and milk cooling technology”, explains Peter Lauwers, CEO GEA Farm Technologies. “Our customers can rely on the fact that they can still obtain all the equipment they need for their farm through their GEA dealer.” Of course, the corresponding warranties on products already purchased and installed will remain unaffected.
