The acquisition of B&W Fahrzeugentwicklung GmbH by global engineering service provider FEV was successfully completed on July 2, 2018, following approval by the German Federal Cartel Office. With this strategic move, FEV aims to expand its expertise and capacities in the business segment of complete vehicle development:
“By integrating B&W into the FEV Group, we are expanding our capacities and gaining additional key employees with engineering know-how in these critical areas of vehicle development,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of the FEV Group.
B&W Fahrzeugentwicklung GmbH, headquartered in Wolfsburg with over 300 employees, is a specialized automotive engineering services provider. With locations in Germany, Shanghai, and Mexico, B&W offers solutions in body-in-white, interior, exterior, Class-A surfacing, model construction, testing, and electrical/electronics. The subsidiary EDL Rethschulte GmbH further strengthens its expertise in lighting technology.
“With our expertise in body development, lighting technology, exterior, interior, and Class-A surfacing, we are convinced that B&W will become an important part of the FEV Group. From the development of individual modules to complete car bodies, we can now offer our automotive customers worldwide a comprehensive one-stop solution,” explained Haraldo Brandenburg, Managing Director and former shareholder of B&W Fahrzeugentwicklung GmbH.
The FEV Group, headquartered in Aachen and operating at more than 40 global locations, is an internationally recognized partner in vehicle development. With more than 5,300 employees, its competencies span consulting, development, and testing of innovative vehicle concepts through to series production. In addition to engine and transmission development, vehicle integration, calibration, and homologation of modern gasoline and diesel engines, FEV increasingly focuses on hybrid and electrified powertrains, alternative fuels, advanced electronic control systems, as well as vehicle connectivity and automation.
i-capital acted as sell-side M&A advisor on the transaction (lead: Torben Seikowsky, Christian Stahl, Oleksandr Molchanov). Legal advice for the sellers was provided by Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, while the buyers were advised by a team from PwC.
