According to the joint managing directors of the Empe group (HQ: Empe-Werke Ernst Pelz & Co KG, Dieselweg 10, D-82538 Geretsried), Hartmut P. Scheurer and Peter F. Strohmaier, at a recent press conference, preparations are being made for Empe to become a global player in the area of automobile interiors, both from the business, technical and strategic point of view. At the end of April 1995, the entry of institutional investors to Empe-Werke Ernst Pelz GmbH & Co KG and Empe Ernst Pelz Vertriebs GmbH at the end of April 1995, through the newly founded holding company Empe Holding GmbH, has increased the proportion of equity funding for the group from 15% to 50%. In the holding company the joint managing directors each hold a 6.5% share, Citicorp Venture Capital GmbH 55% and Goldman Sachs Ltd 32%. The conversion of the holding company into a joint stock company and stock exchange listing – a US listing is not ruled out – are planned "within five years".

The company's turnover was DM 539.7m (previous year DM 421.3m) in business year 1994/95 (to 31. March). Within the next five years the company wants to increase its turnover to at least DM 1bn, mostly over joint ventures with majority stakes and takeovers abroad. Of all their business areas, door and interior panelling made the largest contribution to their total turnover at 50%.

Empe has 18 factories throughout the world, with five in Germany. Their new factory in Ebersdorf, Thüringen, commissioned in April 1995 after investment of more than DM 40m, shows that, even in Germany, products can be manufactured at competitve prices.

In Scheurer's opinion, the company's turnover and profit will change little in the present business year. He pointed to the upcoming model changes at Mercedes (EClass) and BMW (5 Series); Empe is delivering interior parts for both models. Audi and Opel/GM also account for a significant portion of turnover.

READER SERVICE: Empe company brochure: PIE-No. 37775 – Basic Information on company, products and customers as well as Development and Technology Centre: PIE-No. 37828 (all in German).