News
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Februar 18th, 2020 | Company
Tobias Wollermann to head Corporate Responsibility at the Otto Group
As of 01 March 2020 Dr Tobias Wollermann will lead the Vice Presidential Division Corporate Responsibility Otto Group. The long-serving Group Vice President Dr Johannes Merck is to take up an advisory role within the retail and services company at his own wish.
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Februar 18th, 2020 | Company
Otto Group commits to be carbon-neutral by 2030
Through specific measures to avoid and reduce CO2 emissions in its core business processes, the retail and services company Otto Group wants to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The Executive Board has set this target for the Group’s own sites, transportation and employee mobility as well as its external computing centres and cloud services. The Otto Group considers carbon offsetting as a necessary but last-choice measure in achieving the goal.
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Februar 10th, 2020 | Company
Otto Group focus companies report very satisfactory e-commerce growth
According to preliminary forecasts the Otto Group will close the 2019/2020 financial year ending 29 February 2020 with global online revenues of around 8.1 billion euros, compared to 7.7 billion euros for the 2018/2019 financial year. In the German e-commerce market, the retail and services group generated revenues of approximately 5.6 billion euros, versus 5.3 billion euros in the previous year.
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Dezember 23rd, 2019 | Company
Otto Group gains Sergio Bucher as Executive Board Member, Brands and Retail
The internationally renowned top manager Sergio Bucher is to be appointed as a new Member of the Executive Board of the retail and services company Otto Group with effect from 01 February 2020, with responsibility for Brands and Retail.
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Dezember 11th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group to sell Sportscheck to Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof
The Otto Group has decided to sell its Sportscheck GmbH group company, headquartered in Unterhaching near Munich, to Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. With this step the Otto Group is giving the multichannel retailer the best possible chance of long-term business viability, having considered all the options very carefully. Both parties have already signed a corresponding contractual agreement. The sale remains subject to approval by the respective committees and the German Federal Cartel Office.
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Dezember 10th, 2019 | Company
Bodo Kipper becomes member of the OTTO Management Board
With effect from 1 January 2020, Bodo Kipper will take over responsibility for the "Retail and Marketplace" area, which will emerge from the Categories area. Dr. Michael Heller, the former Categories area executive, is leaving the Otto Group by mutual agreement to take on new challenges outside the Otto Group after many successful years.
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November 29th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group appoints Dr Hanna Huber Group Vice President Technology Strategy & Governance
With effect from 01 December 2019 the Hamburg-based international retail and services company Otto Group is to strengthen its management staff with Dr Hanna Huber. In the newly created post of Group Vice President Technology Strategy & Governance she will report to Sebastian Klauke, Executive Board Member, E-Commerce, Technology, Business Intelligence and Corporate Ventures. The proven digital expert joins the Otto Group from the Berlin-based online fashion platform Zalando.
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November 21st, 2019 | Company
Dennis Kollmann appointed Managing Director at Hermes Germany
On 01 December Dennis Kollmann will join the Management Board of Hermes Germany. The former Division Manager will hold responsibility for Sales. He succeeds Thomas Horst who is leaving the Otto Group at his own wish and has already worked his successor into the specific tasks of the new role.
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November 18th, 2019 | Company
Heine Managing Directors to step down
Following the successful functional integration of Heinrich Heine GmbH in the Witt Group, the two Managing Directors Jürgen Habermann and Maximilian Lang are to step down. The Otto Group Executive Board expresses its appreciation of their performance.
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November 4th, 2019 | Company
Sebastian Strache appointed Managing Director HVD
At the Hanseatic Versicherungsdienst (HVD) a planned change in top management will be effected over the coming months. At the end of February 2020 the long-serving Managing Director Brigitte Stade will enter her well-deserved retirement. She will be succeeded by Sebastian Strache, who joins the HVD Management Board on 01 November 2019 and will be worked into his new role by Brigitte Stade up to the end of the financial year.
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September 10th, 2019 | Company
Sven Seidel to leave Otto Group for family reasons
Sven Seidel, Member of the Otto Group Executive Board, Multichannel Retail, has requested the early termination of his contract for family reasons. From 01 November 2019 he will take up fresh challenges as CEO of a group of companies headquartered in southern Germany.
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Juli 22nd, 2019 | Company
Life Hamburg - Reinventing learning
With ‘Life Hamburg’, Benjamin Otto and his wife Janina Lin are planning the construction of a new type of building for cross-generational learning, working and wellbeing close to the Otto Group Campus in Hamburg. While both Benjamin and Janina were inspired by the international initiative ‘Learnlife’, their concept goes much further, as both explain in the interview.
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Juli 16th, 2019 | Company
EOS Group once again increases revenue and profit
> New highs in revenue and EBITDA > Strong investment in debt purchases: another step towards becoming a global financial investor > “We will greatly expand our real estate-secured business, besides unsecured debt purchasing.”
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Juli 3rd, 2019 | Company
e.ventures closes $400 Million to Back Early Stage Founders in the US and Europe
e.ventures, the first tech-enabled global venture capital firm, today announced $400M in new capital across two oversubscribed early stage funds: a $225M US-focused fund based out of San Francisco and a $175M Europe-focused fund based out of Berlin. This sixth generation of e.ventures early stage funds will invest $1.5M to $10M into technology startups ranging from Pre-A with traction to Series A and early Series B. The firm will use this capital to continue to partner with entrepreneurs building rapidly scaling, category-creating consumer, SaaS, and fintech companies with global aspirations.
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Juni 25th, 2019 | Company
Yes to digitalisation – but preferably without data release
Digital technologies in the retail environment are a hot topic. The added value is evident to the retail companies – Artificial Intelligence, algorithms and their binary cousins all contribute to a better understanding of the customer and to making them precisely tailored offers. But what’s the plus for the customer? For them, these technologies above all need to add convenience and match the specific circumstances of their lives. All this is revealed in the new study entitled ‘Future Retail’ carried out by ECC Cologne and the Otto Group.
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Mai 24th, 2019 | Company
Thomas von Hake to strengthen collectAI management team
As of 01 July 2019 Thomas von Hake will join the executive management of collectAI, a company in the portfolio of Otto Group Digital Solutions (OGDS), the Otto Group’s own company builder. In the management team together with Sebastian Hoop he will hold responsibility for the Sales, Marketing and Customer Development Divisions.
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Mai 22nd, 2019 | Company
Otto Group remains on growth track even in difficult market environment
Revenues rise 3.5 percent on a comparable basis to 13.4 billion euros + Comparable online revenues rise 4.5 percent to 7.7 billion euros + Focused growth strategy is paying off, with focus companies including the single company OTTO performing above average + High investments in OTTO’s online platform and logistics infrastructure + EBIT result declines to 222 million euros due to external factors and high investment + Successful cultural change and value-orientated company management strengthen Otto Group as European alternative in online commerce.
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Mai 10th, 2019 | Company
Hermes Group announces solid growth figures
The Hermes Group as the strong No. 2 in Europe’s largest CEP markets profits from the continuously growing e-commerce. In the 2018/19 financial year Hermes increased its revenue by around 6.0% to EUR 3,20 billion. Especially the German market has been challenging due to increased costs on the last mile.
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März 28th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group remains on growth track despite difficult market conditions
In the 2018/19 financial year now closed, according to preliminary forecasts the Otto Group raised revenues on a comparable basis by 3.5 percent to reach around 13.5 billion euros. While the internationally active retail and services group was not able to repeat the outstanding results of the previous financial year, it remains on its growth trajectory and has reconfirmed its objective of achieving a revenue figure of 17 billion euros on a comparable basis by 2022.
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März 26th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group to rely on sustainable bonds for corporate financing
With its comprehensive Corporate Responsibility (CR) Strategy, the international retail and services group is pursuing ambitious goals in expanding a sustainable value chain in the key Textile and Furniture assortments. Institutional and private investors will be able to contribute to this strategy in future.
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Februar 18th, 2020 | Company
Tobias Wollermann to head Corporate Responsibility at the Otto Group
As of 01 March 2020 Dr Tobias Wollermann will lead the Vice Presidential Division Corporate Responsibility Otto Group. The long-serving Group Vice President Dr Johannes Merck is to take up an advisory role within the retail and services company at his own wish.
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Februar 18th, 2020 | Company
Otto Group commits to be carbon-neutral by 2030
Through specific measures to avoid and reduce CO2 emissions in its core business processes, the retail and services company Otto Group wants to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The Executive Board has set this target for the Group’s own sites, transportation and employee mobility as well as its external computing centres and cloud services. The Otto Group considers carbon offsetting as a necessary but last-choice measure in achieving the goal.
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Februar 10th, 2020 | Company
Otto Group focus companies report very satisfactory e-commerce growth
According to preliminary forecasts the Otto Group will close the 2019/2020 financial year ending 29 February 2020 with global online revenues of around 8.1 billion euros, compared to 7.7 billion euros for the 2018/2019 financial year. In the German e-commerce market, the retail and services group generated revenues of approximately 5.6 billion euros, versus 5.3 billion euros in the previous year.
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Dezember 23rd, 2019 | Company
Otto Group gains Sergio Bucher as Executive Board Member, Brands and Retail
The internationally renowned top manager Sergio Bucher is to be appointed as a new Member of the Executive Board of the retail and services company Otto Group with effect from 01 February 2020, with responsibility for Brands and Retail.
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Dezember 11th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group to sell Sportscheck to Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof
The Otto Group has decided to sell its Sportscheck GmbH group company, headquartered in Unterhaching near Munich, to Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. With this step the Otto Group is giving the multichannel retailer the best possible chance of long-term business viability, having considered all the options very carefully. Both parties have already signed a corresponding contractual agreement. The sale remains subject to approval by the respective committees and the German Federal Cartel Office.
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Dezember 10th, 2019 | Company
Bodo Kipper becomes member of the OTTO Management Board
With effect from 1 January 2020, Bodo Kipper will take over responsibility for the "Retail and Marketplace" area, which will emerge from the Categories area. Dr. Michael Heller, the former Categories area executive, is leaving the Otto Group by mutual agreement to take on new challenges outside the Otto Group after many successful years.
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November 29th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group appoints Dr Hanna Huber Group Vice President Technology Strategy & Governance
With effect from 01 December 2019 the Hamburg-based international retail and services company Otto Group is to strengthen its management staff with Dr Hanna Huber. In the newly created post of Group Vice President Technology Strategy & Governance she will report to Sebastian Klauke, Executive Board Member, E-Commerce, Technology, Business Intelligence and Corporate Ventures. The proven digital expert joins the Otto Group from the Berlin-based online fashion platform Zalando.
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September 10th, 2019 | Company
Sven Seidel to leave Otto Group for family reasons
Sven Seidel, Member of the Otto Group Executive Board, Multichannel Retail, has requested the early termination of his contract for family reasons. From 01 November 2019 he will take up fresh challenges as CEO of a group of companies headquartered in southern Germany.
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Juli 22nd, 2019 | Company
Life Hamburg - Reinventing learning
With ‘Life Hamburg’, Benjamin Otto and his wife Janina Lin are planning the construction of a new type of building for cross-generational learning, working and wellbeing close to the Otto Group Campus in Hamburg. While both Benjamin and Janina were inspired by the international initiative ‘Learnlife’, their concept goes much further, as both explain in the interview.
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Juni 25th, 2019 | Company
Yes to digitalisation – but preferably without data release
Digital technologies in the retail environment are a hot topic. The added value is evident to the retail companies – Artificial Intelligence, algorithms and their binary cousins all contribute to a better understanding of the customer and to making them precisely tailored offers. But what’s the plus for the customer? For them, these technologies above all need to add convenience and match the specific circumstances of their lives. All this is revealed in the new study entitled ‘Future Retail’ carried out by ECC Cologne and the Otto Group.
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Mai 24th, 2019 | Company
Thomas von Hake to strengthen collectAI management team
As of 01 July 2019 Thomas von Hake will join the executive management of collectAI, a company in the portfolio of Otto Group Digital Solutions (OGDS), the Otto Group’s own company builder. In the management team together with Sebastian Hoop he will hold responsibility for the Sales, Marketing and Customer Development Divisions.
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Mai 22nd, 2019 | Company
Otto Group remains on growth track even in difficult market environment
Revenues rise 3.5 percent on a comparable basis to 13.4 billion euros + Comparable online revenues rise 4.5 percent to 7.7 billion euros + Focused growth strategy is paying off, with focus companies including the single company OTTO performing above average + High investments in OTTO’s online platform and logistics infrastructure + EBIT result declines to 222 million euros due to external factors and high investment + Successful cultural change and value-orientated company management strengthen Otto Group as European alternative in online commerce.
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März 28th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group remains on growth track despite difficult market conditions
In the 2018/19 financial year now closed, according to preliminary forecasts the Otto Group raised revenues on a comparable basis by 3.5 percent to reach around 13.5 billion euros. While the internationally active retail and services group was not able to repeat the outstanding results of the previous financial year, it remains on its growth trajectory and has reconfirmed its objective of achieving a revenue figure of 17 billion euros on a comparable basis by 2022.
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März 26th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group to rely on sustainable bonds for corporate financing
With its comprehensive Corporate Responsibility (CR) Strategy, the international retail and services group is pursuing ambitious goals in expanding a sustainable value chain in the key Textile and Furniture assortments. Institutional and private investors will be able to contribute to this strategy in future.
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Februar 28th, 2019 | Company
Otto Group reports solid growth in e-commerce
Preliminary forecasts see the Otto Group set to close its 2018/19 financial year (to 28.02.) with global online revenues of approximately 7.7 billion euros. This represents a rise of 5.1 percent on a comparable basis. The retail and services group generated revenues of over 5.4 billion euros in its online business in Germany, an increase of 5.9 percent.
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Januar 31st, 2019 | Company
Carole Walker to retire in summer 2019
After a long and impressive career in the Otto Group, Carole Walker, CEO Hermes Europe, will carry out a decision she took a long time ago and take early retirement in summer 2019. As of 01 March 2019, Kay Schiebur, Otto Group Executive Board Member Services, will assume some of her responsibilities.
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Dezember 10th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group signs United Nations Climate Charter
As Germany’s largest textile retailer, the Otto Group has signed the newly established Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, whose objective is to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Under the umbrella of the United Nations, through the Climate Charter the international retail and services group advocates intensifying climate-protection measures in order to reach the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
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November 29th, 2018 | Company
Fashion for Good launches partnership with Otto Group, OTTO and bonprix
Today Fashion for Good and Otto Group with its companies OTTO and bonprix announce their partnership. The partners emphasise their commitment to a good fashion industry in their shared agenda, which drives the call for international and collaborative innovation within the circular apparel industry.
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November 21st, 2018 | Company
Sebastian Klauke appointed to the Otto Group Executive Board
As of 01 May 2019 Sebastian Klauke will become a Member of the Otto Group Executive Board with responsibility for E-Commerce. The current Chief Digital Officer will succeed Dr Rainer Hillebrand, who after 28 years’ highly successful work for the international retail and services group has reached the stipulated maximum age for Executive Board Members.
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November 5th, 2018 | Company
Andreas Assum strengthens the Otto Group
As of 1 November 2018, the Otto Group’s E-Commerce Competence Center, an expert unit centrally located in the holding company, has in Andreas Assum a new Group Vice President E-Commerce.
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Juli 16th, 2019 | Company
EOS Group once again increases revenue and profit
> New highs in revenue and EBITDA > Strong investment in debt purchases: another step towards becoming a global financial investor > “We will greatly expand our real estate-secured business, besides unsecured debt purchasing.”
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September 24th, 2018 | Company
Payment practices 2018: Experts confirm positive trend for Europe
Europe in the mood to spend. In June, the GfK Consumer Climate for the 28 EU member states reached 23.2 points, its highest level since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2007. Europeans are getting tired of saving and are spending more on consumption. Greater liquidity also means that companies are likely to benefit from improved payment practices.
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Oktober 26th, 2017 | Company
Project A invests in 3i portfolio company Lampenwelt
Berlin-based operational VC Project A today announces its agreement with London-based private equity group 3i to invest in Lampenwelt, Europe's leading online retailer for lighting fixtures.
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August 15th, 2016 | Company
EOS Consolidated impresses with outstanding result
EOS Consolidated, which is headquartered in Hamburg, recorded a successful performance in fiscal 2015/16. Its EBT of EUR 181.4 million was well above the previous year’s result. The international debt collection company was also able to increase its sales to EUR 596.1 million.
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Juli 5th, 2016 | Company
EOS acquires French/Belgian debt collection service provider Contentia
On 1 July 2016, the international EOS Group acquired 100% of the shares in debt collection service provider Contentia in France and Belgium. The EOS Group already has a successful debt collection company in each of the two countries.
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Juni 30th, 2016 | Company
3SI Group sells multichannel stock-clearance business Cogemag-Excédence
Following a private sale process, the 3SI Group today signed an agreement to sell its multichannel stock-clearance business, Cogemag-Excédence, to Artmadis, BtoB distributors and France’s leading tableware and cookware company.
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Juni 22nd, 2016 | Company
Generational change at the helm of EOS Group: Klaus Engberding to become CEO
Klaus Engberding, responsible for the region Germany on the EOS Group Board of Directors, will take over the CEO position of the international leading provider of receivables management effective 1 March 2017. Hans-Werner Scherer, the current long-time and extremely successful CEO, is leaving the Group of his own volition in order to retire.
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Juni 15th, 2016 | Company
Series A: Homeday Wins Project A and Paua Ventures as Investors
Cologne-based start-up Homeday announced the successful closing of their Series A financing round today. In May this year, the renowned venture capital companies Project A and Paua Ventures committed among others to investing a seven-figure amount in the rapidly growing company, which is active in the field of property technology (called “PropTech”) and has chosen to specialize in particular in the data-driven pairing of real estate agents with appropriate customers.
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Juni 14th, 2016 | Company
New executive management team at Bonprix
With Bonprix CEO Dr Marcus Ackermann’s move to the Otto Group Executive Board as of 01 January 2017, the international fashion company will have a reshaped executive management team. Bonprix’s own Markus Fuchshofen and OTTO’s Dr Richard Gottwald will join the current Executive Directors Rien Jansen and Dr Kai Heck on the Bonprix Executive Board.
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Juni 1st, 2016 | Company
Lost My Name: Project A Invests €4 Million alongside other partners
Early stage investor and operational VC Project A has announced an investment of 4 million euros in Lost My Name, one of the leading creators of personalized children’s content. With this extension of the Series A round, Project A joins the circle of renowned international investors, including lead investor Google Ventures, Greycroft and Allen & Co. Project A’s founding partner Florian Heinemann will also join the company’s board. Lost My Name’s first personalized children’s book “The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name” was one of the bestselling children’s book globally in 2015. With their second book, “The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home”, they are well on their way to repeat this success.
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Mai 31st, 2016 | Company
3SI Group confirms the acquisition of Girard-Agediss and the sale of Becquet
Further to the approval of the French Competition Authority, 3SI Group has signed, on 30 May, the acquisition of Girard-Agediss, the French leader in the delivery of bulky items and furniture to professional customers, private individuals and internet users. Further to an open transfer process, 3SI Group has signed, on 31 May, the sale of Becquet to Domoti, a well-known distance seller headquartered in Marquette-lez-Lille.
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Mai 19th, 2016 | Company
E.ventures brings new capital to support full investment lifecycle
Today, e.ventures is announcing the closing of a new $150 million early stage fund to target Europe’s best businesses and entrepreneurs, bringing e.ventures’ total assets under management today to more than $1 billion. This new fund, focused on seed and Series A rounds, will be deployed alongside an already active $290 million global growth investment vehicle which targets subsequent financing rounds, allowing entrepreneurs to gain the full benefit of e.ventures’ expertise through the full investment lifecycle.
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April 20th, 2016 | Company
Outpacing the market: Hermes Group achieves double-digit growth in 2015
The Hermes Group, continuing years of successful growth, also records impressive figures in the 2015 fiscal year. The trade and logistics services provider based in Hamburg has increased its turnover by 11% to €2,460 million (€2,230 million in 2014). A key contributor to this was the fast-growing international parcel and logistics business, driven by the booming e-commerce.
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April 11th, 2016 | Company
Junomedical Launches Digital Medical Treatment Hub
Digital Health startup launches platform providing global access to high quality medical treatments.
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März 25th, 2016 | Company
The 3SI Group sells its retail activities
As part of its new strategic course to focus on growing service activities, the 3SI Group has decided to sell all of its retail activities in France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.
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März 7th, 2016 | Company
Hermes Subsidiary BorderGuru becomes Logistics Partner of Alibaba and Cainiao
BorderGuru, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hermes Group, has become the official contractual partner of China's Alibaba Group. With a gross merchandise value (GMV) of 452 bn USD and access to over 280 million customers, the Alibaba Group is currently the world's leading online retailer. Through its TMall Global shopping platform, Alibaba offers its Chinese customers popular international brands. On behalf of Cainiao, the logistics provider of the Chinese trading giant, BorderGuru GmbH is managing the whole logistics cross-border shipping process for European clients looking to sell on the booming Chinese market.
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Februar 15th, 2016 | Company
Camaïeu chooses Dispeo’s expertise for its multi-channel logistics
Order-picking logistics specialist Dispeo has just welcomed a new customer on board: Camaïeu. As part of a partnership due to begin in July 2016, France’s leading female clothing retailer will be availing itself of Dispeo’s services for its e-commerce activities and store flows management.
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Januar 27th, 2016 | Company
SportScheck: Chief Digital Officer joins the management board
Jan Kegelberg, who has taken over the newly created position of a Chief Digital Officer at SportScheck in Munich in August, joins the management board of the company on February 1, 2016. In this role, he will be responsible for e-commerce sales, marketing and customer intelligence.
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Januar 25th, 2016 | Employees
MYTOYS GROUP launches TechLab in Madrid
The Mytoys Group, one of Germany's most successful E-Commerce companies, will open its first technology location outside Germany. MYTOYS plans to open a TechLab in Madrid.
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Januar 11th, 2016 | Company
The 3SI Group invests over €15 million in its subsidiary Mondial Relay
To support the strong growth of its subsidiary's activities and to enable it to increase its market share in a rapidly expanding sector, the 3SI Group has introduced a plan to mechanise all of its Mondial Relay branches.
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Legally required notifications of insider events are published here.
Legally required publications of directors’ dealings are reported here.
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Juni 25th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 25 June 2019
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Juni 24th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 21 June 2019
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Juni 20th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 19 June 2019
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Juni 19th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 18 June 2019
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Juni 18th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 14 June 2019
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Juni 17th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 13 June 2019
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Juni 14th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 13 June 2019
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Juni 11th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 07 June 2019
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Juni 5th, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 03 June 2019
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Mai 31st, 2019
Benjamin Otto, 29 May 2019
