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JBM Group, the $1.5bn conglomerate with business interest in auto systems and assemblies has acquired major shareholding in Germany- based Linde+Wiemann GmbH KG, a leading manufacturer of complex structural components and assemblies for automotive OEM’s worldwide. The acquisition brings to the foray a plethora of synergies for the JBM Group in the form of new products, global customers, and new German technologies that will not only help in expanding the global footprint of the homegrown conglomerate but will also aid in adding strategic value to its Indian operations, thereby increasing the Group’s long-term competitiveness.

Linde+Wiemann, headquartered in Dillenburg, Germany, specialises in proprietary technologies in areas such as hot forming, tubular assemblies and usage of alternative materials like aluminium resulting in lighweighting in auto systems. The company has a strong base of 17 manufacturing plants across 8 countries: Germany, USA, China, Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa with over 2300 employees. L+W brings in an experience of over 70 years serving global auto OEMs such as BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, Daimler, Ford, PSA, etc. JBM will also have access to L+W’s strength in domains such as electric vehicle components and systems and battery structure and systems.

Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group said, “This business activity is a strategic fit perfectly in sync with our existing scope of operations and solutions and will also further consolidate our global footprint. Both the entities together will bring forward an impeccable combination of frugal engineering and world class technology. We are looking forward to leveraging L+W’s experience in Europe coupled with our expertise in the auto component domain. JBM and L+W will together focus on developing new products that contribute towards improving the safety and performance of vehicles through light-weighting, thereby increasing the product quality and minimizing the time to market for OEMs, making it an integrated onestop solution”.

Ulrich Schoof, Chief Executive Officer, LINDE + WIEMANN, said, “JBM is a highly complementary partner for us with respect to customers and technologies as part of the global automotive market. The use of joint potentials is an essential motivation for the new partnership. Through the new business model, LINDE + WIEMANN will be able to unlock substantial growth by the adaption of product competencies in the area of chassis and suspension. Furthermore, LINDE + WIEMANN will extend its holistic system understanding in the field of e-mobility through the exchange with JBM’s electrical bus division.”

Ravi Sardana, EVP, ICICI Securities Ltd, the financial advisor to JBM Group, said, “The Investment brings together two leading players with strong technology and product portfolio, with a complementary footprint and matching ambitions for growth”. The financing of the entire transaction has been done by ICICI Bank Limited.

L+W’s stamping capabilities are aptly reflected by machines with pressing capacities up to 3000 tonne. The company also brings in complex progressive dies and transfer presses along with hydraulic presslines being used for forming. The core competence of its in-house tool shop includes extensive knowledge in the field of ultra-high-strength steels and the integration of complex feeding units. L+W’s current product portfolio includes critical auto systems such as cross car beams, bumpers, rocker panels, tubular assemblies, etc.

JBM manufactures key auto systems and high-level and safety critical assemblies for almost all auto OEMs present in the country today. It has an end to end product portfolio ranging from passenger cars, 2- wheelers, 3-wheelers to commercial vehicles, farm and construction equipment. Most of its innovative products are safety critical items such as chassis and suspension systems like axles, twist beams, lower control arms, subframes, exhaust systems, air tanks, fuel tanks, complete cowl assemblies, pedal boxes; aesthetical parts like skin panels (doors, roof, rear panel, front panel, bumpers); BIW parts and assemblies (floor, upper body parts like pillar, roof header, cross car beam, cross truck beam, oil pan assembly) and many more.