ILLIG to be acquired by a German financial investor

· The global business with thermoforming systems, packaging systems and services will continue

· The purchase contract was signed on 17 July 2024 (Signing) and the transfer of ownership is expected to take place at the beginning of August 2024 (Closing)

Heilbronn, 18 July 2024 – ILLIG, the German specialist for thermoforming and packaging systems, will successfully complete the equity capitalization and restructuring process initiated at the end of 2023 with the entry of a German financial investor. In the course of the self-administered restructuring proceedings initiated in April 2024, the company, together with the restructuring experts of Grub Brugger (Stuttgart) and the administrator Dr. Tibor Braun of IBK Illig Braun Kirschnek Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB (Stuttgart), succeeded in finding an investor for the continuation of business operations and the strategic realignment of the company.

An experienced German investor, focusing on medium-sized companies in complex situations, will acquire the entire product portfolio and continue the business in all sales regions worldwide. The purchase contract was signed on 17 July 2024 (Signing), but further conditions must be clarified before full ownership can be transferred. The transfer of ownership (Closing) is expected at the beginning of August.

ILLIG to continue as independent company from August

In August, a new company will take over all tasks of ILLIG Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG. To this end, all tangible assets and the entire business operations of the engineering company will be transferred to the new company. The continuation of the ILLIG brand and the existing product portfolio of thermoforming and packaging systems in all sales regions is therefore assured.

In addition to the acquisition, the investor will use significant cash resources to position ILLIG as a market leader in the long term. The acquisition will be funded exclusively with equity capital and aims to achieve a very high equity ratio.

Together with the new investor, ILLIG's management is optimistic about the future: ILLIG remains a global technology driver and is still seen as a strong and international quality brand in the development and manufacturing of high-performance machines for packaging and thermoforming.

With the entry of a financially strong investor, ILLIG will once again invest more in the development of new technologies and innovations. At the same time, the company will focus even more strongly on international growth and the further development of strategically important product areas and markets.

Technological innovation and sustainable packaging solutions for the future

ILLIG will be presenting a new product for sustainable packaging at the Fachpack trade fair in Nuremberg in September 2024, once again demonstrating its technological leadership and innovative strength. With a system for processing dry natural fibres, the company is expanding its portfolio of high-performance packaging machines and underlining its commitment to supporting customers worldwide in reducing the use of plastics and developing resource-saving and recyclable packaging solutions.

ILLIG is optimistic about the future: in a dynamic market situation, packaging will continue to be an essential component of brand products and will fulfill even more functionalities, particularly around product protection. At the same time, the demands on sustainability are increasing. ILLIG intends to contribute to these global trends with its existing expertise, technologies and services and wants to set its own innovative trends for the packaging technology of the future.