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.
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.
> 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
> 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Digital Health startup launches platform providing global access to high quality medical treatments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legally required publications of directors’ dealings are reported here.