News
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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 11th, 2018 | Company
Richard Gottwald named Chairman of Bonprix Executive Board
As of 01 January 2019 Dr. Richard Gottwald is to become Chairman of the Bonprix Handelsgesellschaft Executive Board. The 59-year-old has already been one of the four Managing Directors of Bonprix since 2016, with responsibility for the company’s overall foreign sales activities. Furthermore, Dr. Richard Gottwald is responsible for the HR Area as well as Corporate Communications.
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Dezember 10th, 2018 | Company
Frauke Mispagel bolsters the management team of Otto Group Digital Solutions
With effect from 1 January 2019, Frauke Mispagel will be joining the Executive Board at Otto Group Digital Solutions (OGDS) and will head the Otto Group’s own Company Builder unit together with Dr Björn Schäfers. In addition, the 37-year-old will also join the board of Liquid Labs.
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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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Oktober 9th, 2018 | Company
The bill please! 'European Payment Practices' 2018
Europeans have more in common than generally supposed. As well as cultural similarities and a passion for soccer, Europeans prefer conventional means of payment. So companies are meeting their customers' preferences when they continue to offer traditional payment methods. Overall, they offer on average 4.1 payment options, from the traditional to the modern.
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Oktober 1st, 2018 | Company
hagebau and Otto Group to rely on individual business concepts
hagebau KG and the Otto Group have reached a mutual accord to wind-up the successful Joint Venture baumarkt direkt on 30.06.2019. In future, both companies intend to manage the online sales of their respective DIY assortments independently. Driving the decision are the differing business models involved: the hagebau cooperation pursues a cross-channel approach, while otto.de follows a platform strategy. The Joint Venture’s workforce of approximately 200 at the Hamburg location will be reallocated across both parent companies.
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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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Juli 30th, 2018 | Company
Roberto Valerio leaves Risk Ident
Roberto Valerio, founder and Managing Director of Risk Ident, will leave the company at the end of the month after the successful establishment of the start-up in order to devote himself to new tasks in the future.
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Juli 19th, 2018 | Company
ABOUT YOU becomes Hamburg’s first unicorn
Heartland A/S, the investment holding company of one of Europe’s largest fashion retail groups, Bestseller A/S, is joining ABOUT YOU as a new investor. The investment is part of a financing round of around USD 300 million valuing ABOUT YOU with over USD 1 billion. Thus the Otto Group’s rapidly growing fashion-tech start-up becomes Hamburg’s first ‘unicorn’.
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Juli 13th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group raises 300 million euros with hybrid bond
The Otto Group has successfully placed a so-called hybrid bond. The issue was marketed to large institutional investors such as asset managers, insurers and private banks in Germany and other EU countries. This finance instrument was very well received by investors, with the issue twice oversubscribed. The Otto Group has successfully raised 300 million euros with the bond and will pay a coupon of 4.0 percent over the next seven years.
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Juni 21st, 2018 | Company
Olaf Schabirosky takes over as CEO of Hermes Germany
At today’s meeting of Hermes Europe’s Supervisory Board, Olaf Schabirosky was appointed CEO of Hermes Germany with immediate effect. His previous responsibilities as Manager Services and Finance will be taken over by Hendrik Schneider as of 1 July 2018. Hendrik Schneider is currently Managing Director of OTTO Shared Services GmbH and in his new role he will also serve as Chief Financial Officer of Hermes Europe. The current CEO Frank Rausch and Chief Operating Officer Dirk Rahn have decided by mutual and amicable agreement to leave Hermes Germany.
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Juni 4th, 2018 | Company
collectAI improves Hanseatic Bank’s receivables management
collectAI, the digital receivables management company, has announced its collaboration with Hanseatic Bank today at the European fintech conference Money2020. Hanseatic Bank,a 75 percent subsidiary of Société Générale, is one of the first banks to deploy collectAI’s B2B2C white label solution for digital payment reminders in the segments of credit cards and consumer credits. In the first six months of the collaboration, collectAI’s modern customer communication approach improved Hanseatic Bank’s collection rate by 24 percent in total – 14 percent points up from the previous results. It also reduced the bank’s expenses for receivables management by 88.6 percent in this area.
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Mai 18th, 2018 | Company
Marc Opelt becomes Chairman of the OTTO Management Board
Marc Opelt, previously spokesman of the OTTO Management Board, will be appointed chairman with effect from June 1, 2018. This is the first time that the four-member management board of the Otto Group's largest subsidiary has been given a chairman.
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Mai 16th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group exceeds growth targets
The international retail and services group continues on its growth track, increasing revenues in the past 2017/18 financial year (to 28 February) with a climb to 13.653 billion euros. This corresponds to an increase of 6.7 percent. At the same time the Otto Group further raised its profitability, clearly exceeding its own targets. Notwithstanding high investments in technology, logistics and new retail concepts, the Otto Group increased its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by almost 11 percent to 405 million euros. The Group’s digitised retail saw particularly dynamic growth with a climb of 10.9 percent in online revenues to 7.9 billion euros.
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April 11th, 2018 | Company
Hermes Group achieves record sales
In the 2017 financial year, the Hermes Group again achieved double-digit growth and was especially able to evidence profitable gains in central European parcel markets. In this way, adjusted for currency, Hermes increased its turnover by more than 12% to EUR 3.13 billion.
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April 5th, 2018 | Company
Hermes-OTTO International and Scan-Thor Group form a Joint Venture
Hermes-OTTO International, the sourcing organisation of the Otto Group and Scan-Thor Group, one of the biggest buying offices in Europe, join forces. Both companies hold a 50 percent stake in the company Otto International Scan-Thor ApS with its head office in Herning, Denmark.
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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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Oktober 1st, 2018 | Company
hagebau and Otto Group to rely on individual business concepts
hagebau KG and the Otto Group have reached a mutual accord to wind-up the successful Joint Venture baumarkt direkt on 30.06.2019. In future, both companies intend to manage the online sales of their respective DIY assortments independently. Driving the decision are the differing business models involved: the hagebau cooperation pursues a cross-channel approach, while otto.de follows a platform strategy. The Joint Venture’s workforce of approximately 200 at the Hamburg location will be reallocated across both parent companies.
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Juli 13th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group raises 300 million euros with hybrid bond
The Otto Group has successfully placed a so-called hybrid bond. The issue was marketed to large institutional investors such as asset managers, insurers and private banks in Germany and other EU countries. This finance instrument was very well received by investors, with the issue twice oversubscribed. The Otto Group has successfully raised 300 million euros with the bond and will pay a coupon of 4.0 percent over the next seven years.
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Mai 18th, 2018 | Company
Marc Opelt becomes Chairman of the OTTO Management Board
Marc Opelt, previously spokesman of the OTTO Management Board, will be appointed chairman with effect from June 1, 2018. This is the first time that the four-member management board of the Otto Group's largest subsidiary has been given a chairman.
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Mai 16th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group exceeds growth targets
The international retail and services group continues on its growth track, increasing revenues in the past 2017/18 financial year (to 28 February) with a climb to 13.653 billion euros. This corresponds to an increase of 6.7 percent. At the same time the Otto Group further raised its profitability, clearly exceeding its own targets. Notwithstanding high investments in technology, logistics and new retail concepts, the Otto Group increased its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by almost 11 percent to 405 million euros. The Group’s digitised retail saw particularly dynamic growth with a climb of 10.9 percent in online revenues to 7.9 billion euros.
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April 4th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group on strong growth path
The international retail and services group has launched the 2017/18 financial year with a new growth strategy. The targets set by the strategy were already exceeded in the first financial year (28 February). According to preliminary figures, the Group, with headquarters in Hamburg, increased revenues more than planned by just under 7 percent. Growth in e-commerce was even more significant. Worldwide, the Otto Group increased its online revenues by 10.9 per cent to EUR 7.8 billion.
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März 6th, 2018 | Company
Otto Group global e-commerce revenues grow to 7.76 billion euros
The internationally active retail and services company Otto Group raised its global e-commerce revenues in the 2017/18 financial year (to 28.02.18) to around 7.76 billion euros, according to preliminary estimates. This represents an increase of 10.9 per cent or approximately 760 million euros from existing business. The Group’s online revenues in Germany topped 5.4 billion euros, a rise of 10.2 percent.
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Februar 28th, 2018 | Company
Kay Schiebur to become Otto Group Executive Board Member for Services
With effect from 01 April 2018 the renowned retail and logistics manager Kay Schiebur will join the Executive Board of the retail and services company Otto Group as Member for Services. The 49-year-old succeeds Hanjo Schneider who is leaving the Group at his own wish.
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November 14th, 2017 | Company
Sven Seidel to become Group Executive Board Member for Retail
With effect from 01 April 2018 the top manager from the Schwarz Group is to become Executive Board Member Multichannel Retail at the Otto Group. The 43 year-old succeeds Neela Montgomery, who has taken over as CEO at the Otto Group company Crate and Barrel at her own wish.
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November 2nd, 2017 | Company
Carole Walker leads Hermes Europe
Long-time Chief of Hermes UK has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Europe, Hamburg. The experienced and highly successful manager takes over the leadership of all European logistics activities of the Otto Group from Donald Pilz.
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Oktober 13th, 2017 | Company
Otto Group signs international declaration for more certified wood
Together with other well-known companies, the Otto Group has signed the so-called Vancouver Declaration of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) to highlight the need for responsible forest management. Thus, Germany's largest online retailer for furniture emphasises its ambition to offer its customers only wooden furniture products that comply with the standards of the FSC.
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Oktober 12th, 2017 | Company
Otto Group half-year results: online retail grows by 10 percent
In the first six months of the 2017/18 financial year (to 28 February) the Otto Group maintained its strong position in online retail and raised its e-commerce turnover by around 10 percent. The development of positive results for the retail and services group continued, with sales increasing by some 7 percent on a like-for-like basis. The Otto Group’s ambitious growth strategy is delivering initial success.
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August 2nd, 2017 | Company
German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles: Otto Group publishes Roadmap
As a member of the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles initiated by the German Federal Government, the Otto Group has drawn up its own roadmap with individual targets for 2017. Following approval by external auditors, the international retail and services group has voluntarily published its own action plan, and has requested all Partnership members to secure the effectiveness and future viability of the Partnership.
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Juni 13th, 2017 | Company
CPI2 and SAC Announce Partnership: Digitalisation Helping Factories to Help Themselves Worldwide
The industry initiative CPI2, launched by the Otto Group in 2012, has established a partnership with the world’s most important platform for the sustainable management of textile supply chains, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). The common goal is to create synergies and minimise the negative social and environmental impact in global supply chains. Both initiatives provide know-how via digital channels, which manufacturers can use to improve their production processes independently and effectively.
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Juni 2nd, 2017 | Company
Otto Group issues 300 million-euro bond
Otto Group, the globally active retail and services group, has successfully placed a bond issue totalling 300 million euros with a coupon of 1.875 per cent. The bond has a term of seven years.
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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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Dezember 21st, 2015 | Company
Euler Hermes and EOS announce the sale of its joint venture Bürgel to CRIF
Euler Hermes, the worldwide leader in trade credit insurance, and EOS, the international provider of financial services, announce today an agreement signed on Friday, 18 December 2015 with CRIF, a global company providing credit information services, credit and software solutions, headquartered in Bologna, Italy - for the share purchase of Bürgel Group (Bürgel). 100% of the shares will be transferred to CRIF.
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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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Juli 11th, 2018
Prof Dr Michael Otto, 11 July 2018
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Juli 11th, 2018
Kay Schiebur, 11 July 2018
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Juli 11th, 2018
Dr Rainer Hillebrand, 11 July 2018
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Juli 11th, 2018
Dr Michael Heller, 11 July 2018
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Juli 11th, 2018
Christl Otto, 11 July 2018
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Juli 11th, 2018
Alexander Birken, 11 July 2018
