KION has its eyes on an IPO

“I don’t think 2011 is realistic,” said KION CEO Gordon Riske, “but 2015 would be a very long time (to wait),” adding that the company is focused on improving its operating business in 2011 and 2012 and repaying debt in 2013 and 2014.

KION is owned by private equity firms KKR and Goldman Sachs. They acquired the forklift manufacturer for EUR4bn (US$5.63bn) in 2006 after the Linde Group sold its materials handling business to focus on industrial gases.

KION spokesman Michael Hauger stresses that the group is not in specific talks to acquire any company and would only look at opportunities which would contribute to growing its global and sales network.