法蘭克福/杜塞爾多夫,德國(路透社)— 當(dāng)?shù)貢r(shí)間2月12日,瑞士電梯制造商迅達(dá)集團(tuán)董事Alfred Schindler告訴路透社,迅達(dá)集團(tuán)將在法庭上以反壟斷為由,展開攻勢,拖延蒂森克虜伯的電梯業(yè)務(wù)部門與通力集團(tuán)之間的任何交易。
在蒂森克虜伯電梯業(yè)務(wù)競標(biāo)截止日的第二天,Alfred Schindler發(fā)出此番言論。而在這次競標(biāo)中,來自芬蘭的通力集團(tuán)和其他三組私募公司聯(lián)合體都提出了報(bào)價(jià),據(jù)稱這筆交易的價(jià)值可能高達(dá)170億歐元(約186億美元)。
可以預(yù)見,通力集團(tuán)和蒂森克虜伯電梯公司一旦合并,將一躍成為全球最大的電梯制造商,把目前全球排名第一的美國聯(lián)合技術(shù)公司(UTC)旗下的奧的斯電梯公司和第二的迅達(dá)集團(tuán)甩在后面。
迅達(dá)集團(tuán)名譽(yù)主席Alfred Schindler說:“我們可能會(huì)在歐洲、美國、加拿大、中國甚至澳大利亞提起訴訟。這些訴訟案至少要三到四年才會(huì)結(jié)案。”。
他還提到,如果蒂森克虜伯集團(tuán)把電梯業(yè)務(wù)出售給通力集團(tuán),希望其他競爭對手也采取相應(yīng)的法律手段。他說:“你可以想象到,奧的斯和迅達(dá)集團(tuán)都絕不會(huì)這么輕易地接受被踢出局。”
對此,蒂森克虜伯集團(tuán)拒絕評論。通力集團(tuán)和奧的斯也未即時(shí)作出回應(yīng)。
蒂森克虜伯集團(tuán)曾是德國制造業(yè)的象征,如今因多年投資失敗,負(fù)擔(dān)著124億歐元的債務(wù)及養(yǎng)老金負(fù)債,不得不出售其最有盈利價(jià)值的電梯業(yè)務(wù)以進(jìn)行融資。
蒂森克虜伯集團(tuán)計(jì)劃在二月底做出具體決策。除了整體或部分出售電梯業(yè)務(wù)以外,他還計(jì)劃進(jìn)行IPO上市,盡管消息稱實(shí)施上市的可能性不大。
如果把電梯業(yè)務(wù)全盤出售給通力集團(tuán),蒂森克虜伯集團(tuán)很可能會(huì)獲得最多的資金用以緩解當(dāng)前的困難。但同時(shí)它也擔(dān)心此次交易可能會(huì)觸發(fā)多個(gè)市場的反壟斷調(diào)查,因?yàn)檎虾蟮墓緦⒊蔀檫@些市場的主導(dǎo)者。
如果通力集團(tuán)贏得競標(biāo),那這次交易將在歐洲和美國引起漫長的反壟斷審查,甚至需要向競爭對手出售部分資產(chǎn)以通過審查。
Alfred Schindler曾在1985年至2011年任迅達(dá)集團(tuán)CEO,他的話在目前仍然很有分量。
Schindler和Bonnard家族及有關(guān)利益方,持有迅達(dá)集團(tuán)71.1%的投票權(quán)。
Alfred Schindler在位時(shí),把迅達(dá)集團(tuán)從一家瑞士本土公司打造為全球性公司,他稱除了法律手段外,迅達(dá)集團(tuán)還會(huì)加強(qiáng)營運(yùn)力度,與兩個(gè)競爭對手的合體進(jìn)行抗衡。他沒提及任何細(xì)節(jié),說道:“技術(shù)戰(zhàn)爭即將展開。現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)開始了,但將會(huì)更加激烈。防御策略的核心就是出其不意。提前布置戰(zhàn)術(shù)則可以無視戰(zhàn)爭規(guī)則。”
FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) – Swiss elevator maker Schindler (SCHP.S) would embark on an all-out antitrust offensive in the courts to stall any deal to combine Thyssenkrupp’s (TKAG.DE) lift division with rival Kone (KNEBV.HE), board member Alfred Schindler told Reuters.
His comments came a day after the deadline for binding bids for Thyssenkrupp Elevator, which Finland’s Kone and three private equity consortia are looking to buy in a deal sources say could be worth up to 17 billion euros ($18.6 billion).
A combination of Kone and Thyssenkrupp Elevator would create the world’s largest lift maker, leapfrogging the market leader Otis, which is owned by United Technologies’ (UTX.N), and Schindler, currently in second place globally.
“We would probably file lawsuits in Europe, the United States, Canada, China and possibly Australia. These cases would take at least three to four years,” Schindler, who currently serves as the Swiss company’s chairman emeritus, said.
He said he would expect other rivals to take legal action in the event of a sale to Kone: “You can safely assume that neither Otis nor Schindler will simply accept being driven out.”
Thyssenkrupp declined to comment. Kone and Otis did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
once a symbol of Germany’s industrial power, Thyssenkrupp is struggling with 12.4 billion euros of debt and pension liabilities after years of ill-fated investments and needs to raise money from its prized elevator division.
Thyssenkrupp plans to make a decision on what it will do with the business by the end of February. Besides a full or partial sale, it is also pursuing plans for an initial public offering, though sources said this was becoming less likely.
While an outright sale to Kone would probably raise the most cash for the beleaguered conglomerate, Thyssenkrupp is concerned it might trigger antitrust investigations in a number of markets where the combined company could become a dominant player.
If Kone is selected, the deal is expected to result in lengthy antitrust reviews in Europe as well as the United States which could lead to the sale of some assets to rivals to secure regulatory approval.
Having served as the company’s CEO from 1985 until 2011, Schindler’s assessment carries significant weight, while the Schindler and Bonnard families, and parties related to them, hold 71.1% of the company’s voting rights.
Schindler, who transformed the Swiss company into a global player, said besides legal steps, it would also intensify its operational efforts to fight any tie-up between the two rivals.
“There will be a technology war. It is already ongoing but it will intensify massively,” Schindler said, without providing any specifics.
“Surprise lies at the heart of any defense strategy. A strategy that you lay out in advance would go against any rule of warfare.”