German machinery maker KraussMaffei (KM, Munich; www.kraussmaffei.com) could find itself under new ownership soon. According to recent reporting by the Bloomberg news service, current KM owner Madison Capital Partners (Chicago, Illinois / USA; www.madisoncapitalpartners.net) is said to be in talks with global investment group Goldman Sachs (New York / USA; www.goldmansachs.com) about the potential sale of the plastics processing machinery maker. Citing sources in the know, Bloomberg says an initial assessment has pegged KM’s value at as much as EUR 700m, adding that relevant information has already been sent out to potential bidders. KM declined to comment in response to a Plasteurope.com query.

Madison Capital had bought KM, then called Mannesmann Plastics Machinery, in 2006. At that time, the machinery group still included several divisions that were later spun off, including Netstal, Berstorff and Demag Plastics Group. KraussMaffei today employs about 3,900 workers and last generated sales of just under EUR 1 bn.