INDUS
The INDUS Year in Review 2021
Another turbulent year is drawing to a close. Today, a week before the new year begins, is a good opportunity to pause, remember the many small and large highlights of the INDUS year 2021 and draw new impulses from them for the coming year.
The general conditions for attractive acquisitions improved significantly in the first quarter of 2021. After the closing of the control room specialist JST in January 2021, we were able to acquire WIRUS Fenster GmbH & Co. KG, a highly profitable full-service provider for windows and doors. The high degree of digitalisation of the hidden champion from Rietberg-Mastholte enables the networking of the entire supply chain and efficient LEAN manufacturing. This means that around 125,000 windows and 10,000 entrance doors can be manufactured and delivered just-in-time every year.
In addition to the acquisition of WIRUS, our Annual Report 2020 this year was another highlight in March. Under the motto “Re-imagined”, we highlighted the art of adapting to new circumstances and challenges and being successful in the market with creative solutions. A skill that was and is in demand especially in times of pandemics. We also rethought our financial reporting – and published our first online report together with the annual report. The financial report and [IN]spiring magazine can now be experienced online in a whole new way.
Shortly after the publication of the Annual Report 2020, we were able to strengthen our equity and liquidity base with a successfully placed capital increase. We had already successfully used part of the proceeds from the capital increase in the summer in the supplementary acquisition for the INDUS investment HORNGROUP. HORNGROUP acquired 80 percent of the shares in FLACO Geräte GmbH. At its headquarters in Gütersloh, FLACO manufactures products and systems for fluid management in workshops, petrol stations and industrial plants and thus offers a good strategic complement for HORNGROUP.
This year’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting was once again held as a virtual event on 26 May. Around 300 participants (shareholders and guests) followed the event online. Despite the purely virtual format, we were able to duly introduce our two newcomers to the INDUS Group – JST and WIRUS – with films and online interviews.
In 2021 INDUS placed even greater strategic focus on the issue of sustainability. In July, we published SUSTA[IN], our first sustainability magazine. In it, we provide direct insight into the sustainability activities of our portfolio companies. In September, a new position was created in the holding company to promote sustainable action in the Group.
At the end of the year, we were able to continue the process of consistently strengthening our portfolio and, with the sale of the WIESAUPLAST Group to the SCHERDEL Group, we were able to further reduce the proportion of series suppliers in Automotive Technology. A direct shareholding and a second-tier subsidiary from the Automotive Technology segment were already sold in 2020 as part of the INTERIM SPRINT package of measures. With the SCHERDEL Group, we have found a strategic investor for WIESAUPLAST that can successfully advance the company in the demanding automotive environment.
Shortly before Christmas, the acquisition of H+S Group marked another highlight this year. The specialist for packaging machines covers the value chain from machine development to service and serves end customers across the globe, primarily packaging companies for the food and cosmetics industries, but also for the household goods and toys sectors.
Even though 2021 had many highlights in store for INDUS, the year also had some downsides: The fourth Corona wave, material shortages and supply chain disruptions are just a few buzzwords that continued to challenge the German economy. Despite all the difficulties, the INDUS Group responded quickly and flexibly to a wide variety of challenges. Thus, we also look forward to the new year with optimism. And, last but not least, we hope to be able to meet you in person again at one or two of our events.
On behalf of my colleagues on the Board of Management and the entire INDUS team, we wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a good start to the New Year. Stay healthy and confident!
With kind regards,
Your Dr. Johannes Schmidt
Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schmidt
Dr. Johannes Schmidt studied applied mathematics and obtained his doctorate for Dr.-Ing. in the department of mechanics. He has been a member of the Board of Management of Indus since 2006 and has taken over the chairmanship of the Executive Board by July 1, 2018.