The PwC M&A team is pleased to announce the successful sale of the internationally operating Auto-Kabel Group, based in Hausen in Wiesental / Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg), to Voltaira Group, wholly owned by Foxconn Interconnect Technologies Limited (“FIT”) – forming a strategic partnership to vertically expand its core capabilities in electrification and broaden its customer base.
Auto-Kabel Group is a pioneer in e-mobility and a technology leader in automotive energy distribution and management, with a robust OEM customer base and leading innovation capabilities. The company excels in electrical components for automotive systems and power distribution, focusing on the transition to e-mobility solutions. Auto-Kabel Group has recently invested heavily in electromobility, particularly in busbar and aluminum cable technologies for high-voltage electric vehicle systems.
Voltaira Group is a leading supplier of sensor, connectivity, and electrification solutions, specializing in wire harness technologies. From concept design to development and production, Voltaira Group maintains strategic partnerships with major players in the automotive and micro-mobility sectors. In recent years, the company has developed significantly, shifting its focus from ICE-related products to powertrain-agnostic solutions including cutting-edge electrified vehicle (EV) technology.
“This acquisition marks an important milestone in our journey to become a leading provider of intelligent energy distribution systems, electrification, sensor, and connectivity solutions for the mobility industry,” said Ulrich Eichler, CEO of Voltaira Group. “We strongly believe that our merger will not only increase our market presence and global reach, but also foster highly integrated and synergistic structures.”
The acquisition will significantly enhance Voltaira Group’s product portfolio in intelligent power distribution systems, including innovative battery harnesses, busbars, and high-voltage vehicle electrical systems. As a result of the merger Voltaira Group will have global presence with more than 50 locations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, employing more than 13,000 people worldwide.
Auto-Kabel Group was acquired through a wholly owned German SPV of Foxconn Interconnect Technology GmbH, which is the holding company of FIT Voltaira Group GmbH.
Nearly all German Auto-Kabel entities filed for insolvency in December 2023 / January 2024.
Martin Mucha (Grub Brugger), insolvency administrator of Auto-Kabel Group: “Operationally, Auto-Kabel Group is in a solid position. The transition to e-mobility is well advanced and its order books are filled for many years to come. It was our goal to find the best strategic partner for the entire Auto-Kabel Group. Voltaira Group, with its financial strength, can now consolidate Auto-Kabel Group’s strong position in the market and take advantage of high demand to drive further growth in the future”.
The transaction was closed in November 2024.
PwC advised Auto-Kabel and Grub Brugger with its in-depth distressed and automotive M&A expertise. Auto-Kabel attracted significant interest both from international strategic as well as financial investors. Despite a very complex transaction and situation, PwC was able to keep a fierce competition between several interested investors until the signing of the transaction. Voltaira finally convinced the sellers with the most attractive offer and strategic concept.
PwC’s and Strategy& Performance and Restructuring team played a crucial role in supporting Auto-Kabel Group and the insolvency administrator by providing comprehensive financial steering and tracking, establishing a robust PMO, and setting up a restructuring programme. Additionally, PwC facilitated critical discussions with customers, ensuring a smooth transition and alignment.
Auto-Kabel Group is an international leader in electromobility, with 90 years of innovation and top-tier manufacturing quality with subsidiaries in Mexico / USA, China, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Serbia. Auto-Kabel Group supplies electrical components for automotive systems and power distribution, focusing on e-mobility solutions. As a system supplier, Auto-Kabel Group offers a wide range of products, including charging sockets, drive cables, and battery connectors, to customers worldwide.
Voltaira Group, wholly owned by Foxconn Interconnect Technologies Limited (“FIT”), is a leading supplier of connectivity solutions for EV mobility, 5G AloT and audio applications and operates globally with more than 50 sites in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, employing more than 13,000 people.
FIT is a market leader of interconnect solutions for mobile devices, digital computer and consumer electronics, communication infrastructure, automotive, industry and medical applications and connected smart devices.
For over 50 years, GRUB BRUGGER has been specializing in insolvency, restructuring and commercial law, operating nationwide from its offices in Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt a. Main and Freiburg i. Breisgau with over 50 professionals. In addition to insolvency administration, trustee services and self-administration, GRUB BRUGGER advises companies in crisis as well as creditors.
Martin Mucha is a specialist lawyer for insolvency law and partner at GRUB BRUGGER, according to the JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms 2023/2024, repeatedly one of the leading names in insolvency administration in Germany.
The global PricewaterhouseCoopers network is a worldwide association of independent auditing and consulting companies which together employ more than 370.000 employees in 149 countries (“global PwC-Network“). Our global network comprises over 3,700 deal professionals all over the world, realising approx. 700 successful transactions per year. Our Distressed M&A team led by Timo Klees (Partner) is market leading in Germany and has successfully advised on more than 700 transactions out of special situations and insolvency situations in recent years. Latest transactions include among others Tennis-Point, Steuler Fliesengruppe, Compleo, Prophete, IBEO, Frimo, Ludwig Pfeiffer, Lechner, scanplus, Nobiskrug, Aluminium Rheinfelden, Poggenpohl, Dradura, Fintyre, Thomas Cook and Vapiano.
The PwC M&A team consisted of Timo Klees (Partner), Martin Schwarzer (Partner), Wilfried Böckmann (Senior Manager), Julia Jaumann (Senior Manager), Moritz Büttner (Manager), Dilara Frick (Senior Associate), Leonard Best (Associate) and Dennis Söter (Associate).
The PwC Performance & Restructuring team consisted of Katherina Gasser (Partner) and Markus Labahn (Senior Manager), Thomas Pervan (Manager), Arne Jürging (Senior Associate), Ali Scharifi (Senior Associate), Simon Hartmann (Senior Associate); the Strategy& team of Jörg Assmann (Partner) and Raimund Wolf (Director).
Partner, Head of Corporate Finance | M&A Distressed & Special Situations, PwC Germany
Tel: +49 151 10060451
Martin Schwarzer
Partner, Corporate Finance | M&A Automotive & Industrial Products, PwC Germany
Tel: +49 160 97228977