High Precision Components finds new owner in Mutares

Livingstone has exclusively advised the leading Tier 1 automotive supplier High Precision Com-ponents Witten GmbH (HPC), a company of Westebbe Verwaltungs GmbH and Peter Flaschel, on its sale to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA (Mutares), a listed private equity holding company. The inclusion of HPC in the platform built by Mutares with the companies KICO & Innomotive Systems Hainichen will secure the future and further development of HPC and strengthen its sustainable growth as a leading supplier in the field of hinges and locking systems.

Founded in 2015 with roots dating back to 1901, High Precision Components is based in Witten, Germany. The company employs around 200 people who manufacture precision components for original equipment manufacturers, including hinges, locking systems and body modules.

Mutares, a listed private equity holding company headquartered in Munich, acquires medium-sized companies in special situations based in Europe that show significant potential for operational improvement and will be resold after stabilization and repositioning.

With its investment in High Precision Components Witten GmbH, Mutares is underlining its commitment to strengthening the Automotive & Mobility segment and expanding its portfolio. Through this strategic step, Mutares is forming a powerful supplier group to leverage production and sales synergies. At the same time, it considers the dramatically changing market environment in the automotive supply sector, including the current technology, product, and customer spectrum. KICO GmbH and Innomotive Systems Hainichen GmbH will thus be given a sustainable and future-proof positioning together with High Precision Components Witten GmbH.

Cornel Müller and Peter Flaschel, the former managing partners of HPC, commented: “Following the takeover of the company from the Metalsa Group in 2015, we have achieved a great deal together with our employees. We have invested sustainably and have completely repositioned ourselves in terms of products and technology. The growth achieved with our customers and the sustained profitability are the best proof of this development. With the sale to Mutares, HPC will now become part of a highly competitive supplier group in terms of its product and service range, which can actively shape the upcoming market changes in our industry environment. This will create the best prospects for the site and its employees. We would like to thank the Livingstone team for their dedicated support in a highly efficient and professionally managed sales process.”

Ralph Hagelgans, Partner at Livingstone, added: “We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the development of sustainable structures in the German automotive supply industry with this transaction. The progress of HPC in recent years has been positive and will certainly continue in this new constellation despite a difficult industry environment. We would like to thank our clients for placing their trust in us and for the very efficient process.”