Ventilators are mainly used in intensive care units, especially during the corona pandemic.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Prominent spa guests resided at the Heyer company more than a century ago. At that time, the kings of Belgium, Saxony and Norway traveled to Bad Ems in Rhineland-Palatinate to inhale, writes the historian Hermann Sommer.
However, the traditional Heyer Medical AG, founded in 1883, was now on the verge of falling into Chinese hands. The Aeonmed Group from Beijing formally completed the takeover in March 2020. Like Heyer, Aeonmed is a medical device manufacturer, primarily for ventilators.
But now the federal government is stopping the purchase. The ban will be presented to the federal cabinet on Wednesday, the Handelsblatt learned from government circles. It will halt the takeover for public safety reasons.
Foreign trade law allows the federal government to prohibit the acquisition of a domestic company by a foreign investor in order to ensure “public order or security”. In the case of Heyer, the examination led to the assessment that there were such dangers to public safety and order, specifically health protection, as explained in government circles.
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The Covid 19 pandemic has shown how important it is for Germany to have its own producers in order to be able to supply itself with ventilators independently of non-European manufacturers.
Financial problems
Before the pandemic, Heyer Medical was in financial difficulties and was looking for an investor. The company, which is also represented in China, Malaysia, India, Saudi Arabia and the USA, focuses on anesthesia and ventilators, which are sold in 80 countries worldwide.
A buyer had been found in Aeonmed. In mainland China, Aeonmed’s business includes hospitals with more than 10,000 installed medical facilities, including nearly 800 hospitals. In addition, Aeonmed is active in international markets with offices in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Indonesia and India.
The Chinese company is already advertising the acquisition on its website: “The addition of Heyer’s products to the Aeonmed product portfolio is a strong measure of Aeonmed Medical’s commitment to becoming a global market leader in medical devices.”
Both companies could not initially be reached for a statement on the now prohibited takeover.
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