DGAP-News: Leifheit AG: Leifheit majority remains under family ownership – sales discussions stopped, Chairman of the board of management, Georg Thaller, leaves the company (english)

Leifheit AG: Leifheit majority remains under family ownership – salesdiscussions stopped, Chairman of the board of management, Georg Thaller, leavesthe companyDGAP-News: Leifheit AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous/Change ofPersonnelLeifheit AG: Leifheit majority remains under family ownership – salesdiscussions stopped, Chairman of the board of management, GeorgThaller, leaves the company23.05.2013 / 16:53———————————————————————Leifheit majority remains under family ownership – sales discussionsstoppedNassau, 23 May 2013 – The families Schuler-Voith and Knapp-Voith willcontinue to hold their share of approximately 60% of Leifheit AG; theopen-ended sales discussions, which began in December 2012, have now beenstopped. The background of this is that, despite great interest fromdomestic and foreign investors, an agreement on a sale could not be reacheddue to differing opinions.Helmut Zahn, chairman of the Leifheit AG supervisory board: ‘The ownershave not been under any pressure to sell from the start. Leifheit alsoremains an attractive investment with high development potential for us inthe future.’Chairman of the board of management, Georg Thaller, leaves the company On 22 May 2013 the Leifheit AG supervisory board released the chairman ofthe board of management, Georg Thaller (53), from his duties with effectfrom 31 May 2013. The search for a successor has begun. In the interim theCFO, Dr Claus-Otto Zacharias (59), will lead the company as the solemanaging director. The background of this decision is differing opinions onthe future strategic alignment of the Leifheit group in individual issues.Helmut Zahn, chairman of the Leifheit AG supervisory board: ‘On behalf ofthe supervisory board I thank Mr Thaller for his commitment and work, whichhas helped to shape the positive development of Leifheit AG in the pastthree years. We wish Mr Thaller all the best and every success in hisfuture career.’Georg Thaller became the chairman of the board of management ofNassau-based Leifheit AG on 1 November 2009; on the board of management hewas responsible for the sectors Sales, Marketing, Development,Legal/Patents and Auditing. Previously, Mr Thaller was spokesman for themanagement of the kitchen appliance producer Fissler GmbH. Consequently,under the management of Georg Thaller, Leifheit focused on the four corebusiness areas of cleaning, laundry care, kitchens and wellbeing, andefficiency substantially increased; Group net results increased from EUR3.1million (2009) to EUR9.4 million (2012).About LeifheitFounded in 1959, Leifheit AG is one of the leading European brand suppliersof household items. The company stands for high-quality, innovativeproducts with great utility and pioneering design in the sectors ofcleaning, laundry care, kitchen goods and wellbeing. Leifheit and Soehnleare among the best known brands in Germany. Other than in the BrandBusiness, Leifheit AG operates in the service-oriented Volume Business viaits French subsidiaries Birambeau and Herby. Taking into account itsinternational branches, the Leifheit Group has around 1,000 employees intotal.Contact:Leifheit AGD-56377 +49 2604 977218End of Corporate News———————————————————————23.05.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – acompany of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.DGAP’s Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de———————————————————————Language: English Company: Leifheit AG Leifheitstraße 56377 Nassau Germany Phone: 02604 977-0 Fax: 02604 977-340 E-mail: Internet: www.leifheit.com ISIN: DE0006464506 WKN: 646450 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ——————————————————————— 212830 23.05.2013Weitere Informationen: www.dpa-AFX.de