Greiner Group reorganizes group structure

Dipl.-Bw. Axel Kühner (left) and Dr. Axel Greiner (right), directors of Greiner Holding AG. Photo: weinfranz.at   By introducing a new organizational structure, the Greiner Group sets the course for further growth. Greiner Bio-One is incorporated into Greiner Holding AG. Under the umbrella of Greiner Holding AG, five divisions will be operating in future: Greiner Packaging International, Greiner Bio-One, Greiner Tool.Tec, Greiner Foam International and Greiner Technology & Innovation. Additionally, it was decided to establish a board of family shareholders. The two directors Dr. Axel Greiner and Dipl.-Bw. Axel Kühner are convinced: The reorganization will support our development and promote our growth. It will make us even stronger, safer and more successful.“ The Greiner Group pursues a corporate strategy of profit-oriented growth. This strategy shall be advanced by consistently continuing internationalization, in addition to diversification and innovation. The new group structure has created the basis for implementing this strategy of growth. Greiner und Kühner state: “Our decision is the organizational answer to two central managerial questions: What do we have to do to expand our strengths in the foam and plastics industry worldwide? What is the most efficient way to discover and develop new business segments?“ Two holding companies merge into oneYears ago, the spin-off of Greiner Bio-One from Greiner Holding AG was meant to open up the theoretical possibility of additional financing of the strongly growing enterprise via the stock market. However, financing of the very successful division could be achieved internally. Therefore, with a view to keeping the group structure as simple as possible, Greiner Bio-One is reintegrated into Greiner Holding AG. Five instead of seven divisionsAs from 2011, Greiner Holding AG will consist of five divisions: Greiner Packaging International (briefly called GPI) Greiner Bio-One (briefly called GBO) Greiner Tool.Tec (briefly called GTT) new: Greiner Foam International (briefly called GFI) new: Greiner Technology & Innovation (briefly called GTI)Apart from corporate investment management at Eurofoam and Greiner MULTIfoam, the new division Greiner Foam International will investigate and realize chances in the foam industry outside of Europe. And, besides the corporate investment management at Greiner PURtec, Greiner Perfoam and weba, Greiner Technology & Innovation will develop interesting markets outside the previous business segments of the Greiner Group.Positioning of divisionsThe five divisions will be active in the following market positions:Greiner Bio-One (GBO)Greiner Bio-One is a leading producer in the fields of Preanalytics (blood and urine sampling systems) and BioScience (products for pharmaceutical research and the diagnostic industry).Greiner Packaging (GPI)Greiner Packaging is one of the leading European packaging producers.Greiner Tool.Tec (GTT)Greiner Tool.Tec is the world market leader for tooling, machines and plants in the field of profile extrusion.Greiner Foam International (GFI)Greiner Foam International is an investment company (Eurofoam and Greiner MULTIfoam), investigating and realizing chances in the foam industry outside of Europe.Greiner Technology & Innovation (GTI)Greiner Technology & Innovation is an investment company (Greiner PURtec, Greiner Perfoam and weba), developing interesting markets outside the previous business segments of the Greiner Group.New body in the Greiner Group: the board of family shareholdersFor 18 months, the Greiner family of entrepreneurs has been busy elaborating a family strategy. The result is the establishment of a board of family shareholders, which was resolved on 19 June 2010 during the general assembly in Schladming. The board of family shareholders consists of five family members. Dr. Axel Greiner was appointed as chairman. The newly established board of family shareholders is the communication panel of the owners towards the organs of the enterprise. It also communicates the concerns of the organs of the enterprise to the owners. Broad assignment of the chairmanThe core responsibilities of the chairman of the board of family shareholders Dr. Axel Greiner include the external and internal representation of the shareholders (owning family), involvement in the Greiner Group’s public relations protection of the interests of the Greiner Group in interest groups and expert panels protection of the principles of the Greiner Group’s corporate and brand philosophy and policy from the owning family’s point of view.Orderly transferFor the time being, Dr. Axel Greiner remains a member of the board of directors of the Greiner Group to ensure an orderly transfer. Dr. Axel Greiner will support the supervisory board in searching his successor, who will act as chief financial officer in future, and he will attend his successor in the familiarization phase. In the course of 2011, Dr. Axel Greiner will abandon the double function and dedicate himself exclusively to his tasks as chairman of the board of family shareholders. Greiner Group: successful first half of 2010With its strategy of diversification, the Greiner Group could successfully hold its ground in an extremely difficult economic environment during the last few months. The board of directors is very satisfied with the current corporate performance and feels confident for the future. Investments will be continued. The only downer is the alarming development of raw material prices. Outlook 2010 (forecast)Turnover 1.137 mill. euros (+10 % compared with 2009Cash flow 109 mill. euros (+12 % compared with 2009)Investments 95 mill. euros (+13 % compared with 2009)Employees 7,458 (+3 % compared with 2009)Facts and figuresTradition and vision, these are the main features of the internationally active Greiner Group. It is one of the leading enterprises in the foamed material and plastics industry. Established in 1868 in Germany and in 1899 in Austria, the 100% family-owned group of enterprises combines the know-how of a network organization with the high innovation and flexibility of legally independent enterprise units. The diversification of products and markets is typical of the Greiner Group and a guarantor for continuous growth.Today the group of enterprises includes 116 locations (both for production and sales) around the globe, permitting the associated units of the enterprise, partly local players and partly global players, to perfectly focus their activities on customer requirements and the demands of the market. In the business year 2009 a total of 7,220 employees achieved a consolidated turnover of 1.031 billion euros. The Greiner Group consists of two holding companies, the Greiner Holding AG and Greiner Bio-One International AG. The group is managed by the directors Dr. Axel Greiner and Dipl.-Bw. Axel Kühner.