LINZ (dpa-AFX) - The Austrian technology group Kontron is submitting a mandatory offer for the remaining shares in the German electronics company Katek. As the company announced in Linz on Monday, it is offering the remaining shareholders 15 euros per share. Alternatively, they could exchange four Katek shares for three Kontron shares. In the event of an oversubscription of the share consideration, Kontron shares would be allocated on a pro rata basis. The acceptance period for the offer begins this Monday and ends on May 13 at midnight.

Kontron has already acquired a good 59 percent of the shares. Kontron paid around EUR 129 million for the large block of shares from the previous majority shareholder Primepulse. For the remaining shares, Kontron's management estimates a requirement of around EUR 55 million.

Kontron CEO Hannes Niederhauser expects the takeover to strengthen Kontron's position in the alternative energy and aviation sectors. Katek offers control electronics for solar systems and charging technology for electric cars. Kontron sees itself as a specialist in the networking of machines and devices (IoT) and the software required for this.

After four acquisitions in 2023, Kontron's recent buying spree is set to come to an end for the time being. The acquisition strategy has been concluded for the time being, it was announced at the beginning of the year. Kontron sold its IT service business in 2022. Katek is to be delisted following the mandatory offer. With the company's more than 3200 employees, Kontron will grow to around 8000 people./mne/niw/he