Strategic Partner WUS increases stake into SCHWEIZER

Following three years successful strategic partnership and co-operation in the High Frequency (HF) segment between WUS Printed Circuit (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. and Schweizer Electronic AG, Schramberg, the companies WUS Printed Circuit (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., China and WUS Printed Circuit Co., Ltd., Taiwan, acquired shares of SCHWEIZER by their respective subsidiaries as follows: WUS Printed Circuit (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. acquired 15.24% and now holds 19.74% of SCHWEIZER’s shares, WUS Printed Circuit Co., Ltd, Taiwan acquired 10.16 %. The equity stake was purchased from the share pool of the Gerhard Schweizer family line. Closing of these transactions is subject to the conditions precedent of antitrust approval.

WUS thus underpins its firm belief in SCHWEIZER’s technological competence and its strong interest in the company’s future prospects. This step further strengthens SCHWEIZER’s partner network.

WUS Printed Circuit (Kunshan) Co., Ltd has been engaged in the design and manufacturing of printed circuit boards since April 1992. Thanks to the teamwork and effort of all its stakeholders, WUS has become one of the leading brands in the PCB industry. Following its product differentiation strategy, WUS focuses on providing value to its customers through technology, quality and service. The company’s’ core products include high layer count PCBs for telecommunication and network equipment, automotive electronics, industrial automation controls and aviation electronics. With about 8,200 employees WUS achieved sales of 489 million euros in Fiscal Year 2016 ending December.

“Our partnership and cooperation with SCHWEIZER bear a win-win solution for both companies as well as for our customers in order to face our common challenges. Therefore we decided to buy the additonal equity stake allowing us to further participate in SCHWEIZER’s business results and to share risks as well as positive outcomes with our partner,” says Chris Wu, President of WUS Printed Circuit (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.

And he adds, "We believe in the coming decade, autopiloting and electrification of automobile will be among the key technologies that revolutionise people's way of living. In the past three years, through technology transfer and co-operation in HF PCBs for ADAS radar, both companies have built a solid foundation of mutual trust, understanding and respect. We are honoured to be invited to participate in this additional equity stake of 15.24% share transfer opportunities, and look forward to deeper co-operation to make these technologies available to more people in a much shorter time than we all expected."

Nicolas Schweizer, Chief Technology Officer of Schweizer Electronic AG, comments: "Only 3 years ago, in April 2014, SCHWEIZER and WUS agreed on their exclusive, long-term strategic partnership which allows us and our customers access to further HF production capacities in Asia. This was followed by WUS' first investment into SCHWEIZER just 4 months later. Now, we are very pleased about this further capital transaction since it enhances WUS' strong interest in exploiting the business opportunities on the global automotive market together with SCHWEIZER. As leading manufacturer of sensor and power PCB solutions especially requested for tomorrow's autonomous cars and for e-mobility, we believe in the strong synergies resulting from the co-operation between our companies".