Business performance

In 2015 the KION Group further strengthened its market position in the automation sector by acquiring companies and entering into partnerships. On 7 August 2015 the KION Group paid €72.5 million to acquire all the shares in Egemin NV, based in Zwijndrecht (Belgium), which is the logistics automation division of the Belgian automation specialist Agidens International NV (formerly the Egemin Group). Egemin Automation has become the seventh brand in the KION Group and is included in the Other segment. With a strong customer focus, it works together with its sister companies on complex automation projects. Since the beginning of August 2015, Egemin Automation has been included in the consolidated financial statements of the KION Group.

Back in February 2015, LMH acquired 10.0 per cent of the shares in robotics specialist Balyo and entered into a strategic partnership with the company. STILL built on its leading market position in lean logistics by taking over LR Intralogistik GmbH in October 2015. LR Intralogistik specialises in intralogistics concepts that eschew forklift trucks in favour of tugger trains, which can also be used in automated material flow concepts.

On 20 July 2015, the KION Group exercised the put option vis-à-vis Weichai Power that it holds via Linde Material Handling GmbH on 20.0 per cent of the shares in Linde Hydraulics. This has reduced LMH’s stake in Linde Hydraulics to 10.0 per cent and resulted in a cash inflow of €77.4 million on 16 December 2015.