Knorr-Bremse reveals HELLA purchase interest

Knorr-Bremse, which supplies braking systems and other rail and commercial vehicle products, has expressed an interest in buying a majority shareholding in lighting and electronic specialists HELLA whose markets include construction vehicles.

In a brief statement Knorr Bremse said: “Knorr-Bremse AG confirms that it is generally interested in acquiring the block of shares amounting to 60% of the shares in HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA held by the founding family.

Knorr-Bremse has expressed an interest in buying a majority shareholding in lighting and electronic specialists HELLA.

“Consultations are at a very early stage. Currently, it cannot be foreseen whether a transaction will occur.”

In Knorr-Bremse’s commercial vehicle systems division it offers its customers braking systems for trucks, buses, trailers and agricultural machinery. In the chassis systems sector, Knorr-Bremse is a leading player in electronic control, driver assistance and air supply systems.

Other product fields include steering systems, powertrain-related systems and torsional vibration dampers for diesel engines.

In its rail vehicle systems division, it equips mass transit vehicles such as metro cars and light rail vehicles, as well as freight trains, locomotives, long-distance passenger trains and high-speed trains.

Along with braking systems it offers products including intelligent entrance systems, HVAC systems, auxiliary power supply systems and control components.

HELLA achieved sales of €5.8 billion in fiscal year 2019/2020 and employs approximately 36,000 people.