Tannpapier: big surprise of the sale

Tannpapier: big surprise of the sale

TRAUN. The Trierenberg family was sold to Mayr-Melnhof.

Thursday night, several hundred guests were partying in the parent company of the Tannpapier cigarette paper producer in Traun. The company had invited the annual presentation of its international photo contest, a case of the Trierenberg family. The Executive Director, Catharina Trierenberg-Wetzl, was represented by Sister Stephanie. She was prevented from working.

The absence was explained shortly after eight o'clock at the latest, when Mayr-Melnhof listed cardboard maker announced in an ad-hoc statement that it was taking over the Trauner group. The entrepreneurial Trierenberg family withdraws completely and sells 275 million euros. That's about six and a half times the annual Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) less liabilities.

The workforce was caught off guard by the change of ownership: "The media have learned," said Klaus-Dieter Fellner, chairman of the company's board. He was here yesterday, Friday, during the many information sessions available to staff. The lack of understanding of the sale was great in the loyal team. Reactions ranged between uncertainty and not believing the head.

Only executives were directly informed by the owner's family. Catharina Trierenberg-Wetzl told ON that it was crucial for the family that the Tann group remain "in good Austrian hands". This is guaranteed with Mayr-Melnhof (MM). The carton manufacturer is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. However, it is controlled by the two families, Mayr-Melnhof and Goess-Saurau, which together hold 57% of the shares.

Taped several times

"We hit regularly and the door was lifted at some point," said MM's president. Wilhelm Hrmanseder. Yesterday, during a teleconference, he pointed out that Tannpapier had acquired a "well placed company". The acquisition strengthens the group's Cigarettes business, which previously produced cigarette packs but no filter paper. The share of MM in tobacco increases from 20 to almost 30%. "Our customers are 70% overlapping," said Hrmanseder, who also spoke yesterday about the potential for synergy.

> Human of the day: Christian Trierenberg

Stationery in the country

1988 – Laakirchen: Wilfried Heinzel sells the magazine paper mill in Laakirchen to the Swedish group SCA. In 2013, the nephew of the seller, Alfred Heinzel, bought the factory.

1990 – Nettingsdorf: The Stepski family goes to the stationery with the factory, in a crisis seizes the first actions of Jefferson Smurfit. In 1998, the Irish take over the majority of the actions, ie 2000.

1996 – Steyrermhl: The Bawag press company, formerly the Trade Union Bank, has largely joined the Augsburg Haindl group. Since 2001, the Finn UPM Kymene has the say.

2003 – Grnburg: The Bauernfeind family of corrugated cardboard factories was merged with other Mondi sites, then American, with the South African headquarters.

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