LINZ, AUSTRIA – Kontron has agreed to acquire around 60% of the shares in Katek in a bid to expand its portfolio of green energy solutions and the aerospace segment.

The transaction, in which Kontron is acquiring 8,587,138 shares in Katek for a purchase price of €15 ($16.30) per share from primary shareholder Primepulse, is expected to be completed by March pending regulatory review, Kontron said in a release.

Katek is a leading European electronics company that offers electronics and products in the fields of solar energy and e-mobility. The company generated revenue of more than €750 million ($815.2 million) in 2023, and has more than 3,200 employees in locations across Europe, Asia and North America.

The aim of the acquisition is to expand Kontron’s portfolio with smart solutions for renewable energies and other industries, the company said, and to achieve this, Katek’s products will be upgraded with Kontron’s software expertise and IoT connectivity – enabling the products to become more secure, have firewall functionality, be able to connect to complex grids and be maintained remotely. The merger expands Kontron’s “Software + Solutions” segment to include the future-oriented “GreenTec” division.

"With the acquisition of Katek SE, we are expanding our presence in the high-growth area of clean energy solutions in a targeted manner and also strengthening the Aerospace division at Kontron with the Katek subsidiary NexTek," said CEO Hannes Niederhauser. "The clean energy sector holds considerable potential for the future. Upgrading with Kontron software will increase gross margins by around 5% in the medium term, thereby increasing profitability at Katek as well."